Posted on 06/16/2008 10:42:45 AM PDT by Signalman
LONDON (Reuters) - Gay men and straight women share some characteristics in the area of the brain responsible for emotion, mood and anxiety, researchers said on Monday in a study highlighting the potential biological underpinning of sexuality. ADVERTISEMENT
Brain scans also showed the same symmetry among lesbians and straight men, the researchers wrote in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"The observations cannot be easily attributed to perception or behavior," the researchers from Sweden's Karolinska Institute wrote. "Whether they may relate to processes laid down during the fetal or postnatal development is an open question."
A number of studies have looked at the roles genetic, biological and environmental factors play in sexual orientation but little evidence exists that any plays an all-important role. Many scientists believe both nature and nurture play a part.
Brain scans of 90 volunteers showed that the brains of heterosexual men and homosexual women were slightly asymmetric with the right hemisphere slightly larger than the left, Ivanka Savic and Pers Lindstrom wrote. The brains of gay men and heterosexual women were not.
Then they measured blood flow to the amygdala -- the area key for the "fight-or-flight" response -- and found it was wired in a similar fashion in gay men and heterosexual women as well as lesbians and heterosexual men.
The researchers added that the study cannot say whether the differences in brain shape are inherited or due to exposure to hormones such as testosterone in the womb and if they are responsible for sexual orientation.
But this is something they plan to look at in a further study of newborn babies to see if it can help predict future sexual orientation.
"These observations motivate more extensive investigations of larger study groups and prompt for a better understanding of the neurobiology of homosexuality," they wrote.
They also share a passion for make-up, shoes and men.
HOw Thpecial!!
what about bis, metros, trannys, etc?
Arnold was correct,these are Girlie Men!
Does that mean that if I convert a lesbian to hetro, then I'd get a woman who isn't crazy?
LOL...
I’ve always found Megan Mullally to be hot for some reason...
She ain’t bad.
That explains “Sex and the City.”
And you’re only 31 too. She’s almost old enough to be our mom.
And interior decorating with absolutely fabou-loso colors!
I thought it was the “Shopping” gene they shared.
Who didn’t see that one coming, GIRLFRIEND!
It makes sense - if you don’t believe in God.
There are a whole lot of guys who will dip their wick in just about anything (think prisons). I don’t think they have the same kind of brain pattern as women.
Yeah, I can believe that.......
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