The Female Brain (2^nd Ed.) Conceptual Advances in Brain Research Series

The first edition of The Female Brain laid the groundwork for gaining a better understanding of the female brain, examining the evidence for structural and functional differences between the brains of males and females. Addressing a wealth of new research, the second edition continues in this vein, leading readers through the basic principles of anatomy and physiology and on to the complex behavioral functions which constitute the workings of the normal and abnormal female brain.

Examines Questions about Structural and Functional Differences

The book addresses the question of structural and functional differences between the female brain and the male brain. Are there differences? How good is the evidence? Where do the differences lie? Are there differences in the neuroanatomy of females, and if so, where? Do females and males process information differently, and if so, how? The author puts the relative lack of information on the female brain into historical perspective and reviews empirical evidence relevant to the different aspects of brain structure and function. She elucidates laterality, the functional asymmetry of the brain, the left brain-right brain distinctions, and how they differ between females and males.

A Clear Presentation and Evaluation of Medical and Scientific Evidence

Filled with rigorous scientific analysis in an easily accessible format and detailed explanatory diagrams, the book systematically develops the topic from anatomy to behavior. It draws on current research to explain why men and women behave differently and why these differences should be exploited when designing research and clinical studies.

Introduction. An Historical Perspective. Brain Structure: The Architecture of Difference. Functional Differences: The Means to an End. Perception and Cognition: Looking Inside the Black Box. Laterality: The Asymmetrical Brain. Neurology, Psychiatry and the Female Brain. Female Pharmacology. The Female Brain: A User’s Guide.