What We're Reading: Mary

The Female Brain

by Louann Brizendine, M.D.

Dr. Brizendine follows the development of the female brain through the whole life span, starting with fetal development, all the way through the chapter she calls the "Mature Female Brain."

According to Dr. Brizendine, "Until eight weeks old, every fetal brain looks female." It is after a huge surge of testosterone, beginning in the 8th week, that the male brain begins to develop different general strengths and weaknesses from the female. Differences resulting from testosterone, include a smaller communication center, and larger sex and aggression centers. Needless to say, these differences have many lifelong repercussions. Her particular emphasis in the book is the influence of hormones on the brain, which affects both its development, and day to day functioning. She describes which hormones are major players at which developmental milestones. She goes into depth about hormones involved in pregnancy and childbirth, such as oxytocin, which are responsible for the feelings of caring and bonding that most mothers have towards their children. Also included are many references to animal studies, and related male hormonal influences.

Her writing is factual, yet includes many interesting people stories to exemplify the hormonal effects she is talking about. Overall, it's a very engaging read. It will be interesting to see more from the other side of the story in her latest book: The Male Brain.

The differences she sees between the two can be partially summarized by comparing the two book covers:
The female brain image is produced by coils of telephone cord; whereas the male brain is depicted by an artwork of duct tape.