On the elusive nature of sex differences in cognition: Hormonal influences contributing to within-sex variation

Archives of Sexual Behavior,  February, 2002  by Geoff Sanders

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Geoff Sanders (1,2)

Marie Sjodin (1)

Marianne de Chastelaine (1)

Despite extensive investigation, the issue of sex differences, both in cognitive abilities and in functional cerebral asymmetry, remains unresolved. Many authors have concluded that, on average, women score higher than men on verbal tasks and fine motor tasks whereas men score higher than women on mathematical reasoning and spatial tasks (see Halpern, 2000; Maccoby & Jacklin; 1974). It has been noted, however, that these sex differences are frequently elusive and their very existence has been questioned (verbal abilities: Hyde & Linn, 1988; spatial abilities: Caplan, MacPherson, & Tobin, 1985). ...