Brain Mapping Gender Identity: What Makes A Boy A Girl?

http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/16846/20130625/brain-mapping-gender-identity-transsexualism-sex-reassignment-surgery.htm
6/25/13
Susan Scutti

A study, published last year and conducted at the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging at UCLA School of Medicine, explored the extent to which brain anatomy is associated with gender identity. "The degree to which one identifies as male or female has a profound impact on one's life," the authors wrote. "Yet, there is a limited understanding of what contributes to this important characteristic termed gender identity."

From the article:

"The current study provides evidence that brain anatomy is associated with gender identity, where measures in MTF transsexuals appear to be shifted away from gender-congruent men," wrote the authors.

Scientific corroboration, then, supports what individuals have tried to express for years. Since the time of Hirschfeld and Benjamin, the trans community has expanded to include not just transvestites and transsexuals but also androgynes (individuals who identify as androgynous), genderqueers (individuals who identify as somewhere in between male and female), bigenders (individuals who identify as both male and female), and any other individual who describes gender in a non-binary way. In all likelihood, scientists may soon find distinct features of the brain that correspond with each individual point along this continuum of gender possibility, identification, and expression.

It certainly is wonderful when medical scientists can research and identify within our brain the makeup that controls & drives our gender identity and backs up who we say we are. This needs to be made public to educate our citizens. Hopeful we will be able to led safer lives.

Thanks Natasha for posting  & Jamie for isolating the core information.

Jamiep

explored the extent to which brain anatomy is associated with gender identity.

What other part of our anatomy is going to associated with gender identity?  Our feet?

I am glad that scientists would study this, but am just wierded out that they would think the extent to which gender identity is associated with the brain would be anything but ALL OF IT.

Thank you for posting this. I just added the link to my
coming out letter.

I think I get your meaning, but... however your identity develops (social, biological, etc.) is it not somehow someway up in your mind/brain somewhere?  Maybe I just don't get it?  Do you think they mean the extent to which they can attribute it to measurable (with current tech) physiological differences?  Idk?

But I do support any study that examines where and how these feelings develop and/or where and how they manifest physically in the brain.  It's interesting, plus understanding something better just makes it less scary for a lot of people.