<p>“The hardwired difference between male and female brains could explain why men are ‘better at map reading’ and why women are ‘better at remembering a conversation’” [among other things].</p>
<p>What evidence is there that this is “hardwired” versus the result of decades of asymmetrical practice and training for men and women? “Hardwired” implies unchanging and unchangeable; given that all the subjects were raised in cultures with different gender roles, the data don’t support that conclusion.</p>
<p>Hanna–I can see already that you’re “hardwired” to be a contrarian.
Men aren’t better map readers–they’re just really good at trying to act like they know everything…</p>
<p>I’m a very good map reader and not so great at traditional woman stuff. I was raised primarily by my dad. So, one data point for the malleability of minds being the bigger factor.</p>
<p>Actually, I think this is interesting. Men tend to look at maps and directions while women find their way by landmarks. Man: go 2 miles, turn left. Woman: go to X store with crummy sign out front, make a left.</p>
<p>It appears that all of the participants in this study are from the US. I’d be far more interested in knowing whether or not these results hold cross-culturally. </p>
<p>I don’t like when articles don’t link to the study :/</p>
But at least the machine actually means ‘left’ when it indicates ‘left’ as opposed to the opposite (left means right and right means left) - a phenomenon that seems to afflict the female brain.</p>
<p>Over 900 subjects from a U Penn study. The main thing to question is if they had anyplace to actually go on a map or cared if they actually got there.</p>
<p>Skip it GGD–everyone in my family knows that when I say “left” I meant right and “right” means left. I just point. But when I say TURN AT THIS CORNER–I’m right (and I don’t mean left).</p>
<p>If you are truly interested in the difference between male and female brains, I suggest that you check out the book Why Gender Matters by Leonard Sax. It examines the psychologies of males and females, as opposed to getting into all the more scientific stuff, but it is interesting nonetheless.</p>
<p>Having raised twins, one boy and one girl, and another boy and girl siblings, there is no doubt in my mind that they are different. No studies are needed. It’s interesting how every few years someone seems to notice this obvious fact.</p>
<p>Check out Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus. That one was nearly 20 years ago if I remember correctly. I think it even made the cover of Time Magazine.</p>
<p>“Men tend to look at maps and directions while women find their way by landmarks. Man: go 2 miles, turn left. Woman: go to X store with crummy sign out front, make a left.”</p>
<p>Again, map/directions kind of woman. My odometer will tell me exactly how far I’ve travelled; when that fails, I figure it out from my days as a runner. (One quarter mile - okay, that is once around the track, about ninety seconds at a brisk run.) I have no f—ing clue where the crummy store fits in, whether I passed it, or if it’s three miles up. What a spectacular waste if time.</p>
<p>May I also suggest that conditioning plays a role in this? If you drive around very familiar areas, you may be more inclined to use landmarks; if you frequently drive to new places, you would use a map and distance directions. Men drive more than women do; women tend to stay at home with the kids and thus do more of their mileage around town; and men might be more likely to do road trips. </p>