Researchers from Stanford University used artificial intelligence to explore how brain characteristics differ between men and women. The findings indicate that men tend to excel in spatial orientation, while women show stronger memory, imagination, and social processing capabilities. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
The AI system was trained on MRI brain scans from more than 1,500 individuals. It analyzed large image datasets and, through a specialized algorithm, learned to identify patterns that relate to gendered brain characteristics. After training, the model achieved about 90% accuracy in determining the brain’s gender based on the observed features.
Attention was given to differences in the brain’s striatum and limbic system, regions tied to emotion, motivation, learning, memory, planning, and problem solving. These areas showed distinctive patterns associated with gender, suggesting multiple pathways through which cognitive and emotional processes may differ.
Findings indicate that women’s brains exhibit stronger connections between regions involved in emotion and social cognition. This connectivity could help explain heightened sensitivity to social cues and improved recognition of others’ emotions. The data also pointed to more developed memory, imaginative thinking, and foresight among women, while men appeared to show advantages in spatial reasoning and certain technical domains.
Further analysis revealed sex-related differences in activity during the brain’s resting or default mode state. This network tends to activate when attention is not directed toward a specific task. The study found more synchronized activity within the resting-state network among women, compared with men.
Past neuroscientific work has shown that head injuries can influence brain function in surprising ways, underscoring the need for cautious interpretation of such differences and the importance of context, including health status and age.