Do you have a female or a male brain? Or are we asking the wrong question?

For centuries, behavioural scientists and neuroscientists have been pursuing a Hunt the Difference agenda, trying to characterise the differences between the brains and behaviour of females and males. But how different are they really? Are there genuine biological differences between female and male brains? Do men and women truly differ in traits such as empathy or map-reading skills? In this Bio Talk, Gina Rippon revisits these long-standing questions and draws on research from neuroscience, psychology, and evolutionary biology to provide a fresh 21st-century perspective.

About Gina Rippon

Gina Rippon is a Professor Emeritus of Cognitive Neuroimaging at Aston University in the UK. She uses brain imaging techniques to investigate individual differences and developmental disorders such as autism. In her work, she challenges the idea that brains can meaningfully be divided into ‘male’ and ‘female’ types, highlighting instead how biology and experience interact throughout life to shape each individual brain. Gina Rippon is an outspoken critic of “neurotrash” – popular, simplistic interpretations of brain science that can lead to misinformation about sex/gender differences - and an advocate for accurate and transparent communication of sex/gender (brain) research.

​The event is free to attend, but we kindly ask you to register beforehand. The lecture will be in English.​