12:16 26 January 2011
by Jessica Hamzelou

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20032-transsexual-differences-caught-on-brain-scan.html

Differences in the brain's white matter that clash with a person's genetic sex may hold the key to identifying transsexual people before puberty. Doctors could use this information to make a case for delaying puberty to improve the success of a sex change later.

"Their brains are not completely masculinised and not completely feminised, but they still feel female," says Guillamon.

definitely a step in the right direction I'd say...

I can't remember the Australian professor/Doctor who also stated that he thinks that Transsexuals are indeed Intersexed (based on certain measurements of the brain) and that he feels that there will be enough proof eventually to make the world know this.

The report above has nothing to do with him, but I think the fact (and regardless the label of intersexed or Trans) we are getting somewhere and in the end it will help our cause with the rest of the world. Not that we need everyones approval.

I notice in the article comments they discuss whether it would be "right" to hypothetically cure this condition or whether that's "normalizing" people.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD FIX ME I DON'T WANT TO BE TRANS!! O_O''

I'd feel reasonably certain that if there is a "cure" ever offered it will be along the lines the article speaks of; delaying puberty. Recognizing this situation earlier in prepubescent children and dealt with as described (at least to me) is the compassionate and simplest method to consider.

As some of the commentator's might suggest otherwise, there is not a thing wrong in my brain. It does not require any "cure". My body on the other hand, it's got some issues!


Dawn

This is merely a further development of the work already done by Dr Vincent Harley in Australia ( that was the name you were looking for Stephanie ) about whom I have already posted many times.

It is also building on the work done in Holland by Professor Louis Gooren in Holland, the mid 1980's.

Basically the evidence for this has been out there since the 1980's but surprisingly it has been largely ignored by your American physicians because it effectively proves that this isn't a mental problem at all but a 100% MEDICAL one.

Two things tend to follow almost as day follows night.

1. There is no basis for insurance companies to refuse cover because this is now no different from a physical deformity - of the brain - which in any other condition they WOULD cover.

2. There is no basis for the counseling industry to make huge amounts of money out of effectively acting as gatekeepers if a simple brain scan can give a simple stop/go yes/no answer.

I wonder why the existing industry isn't keen for this to be further researched and publicised? 

Thanks for that info ReJen! I knew it was somewhere around hear.

I think the whole thing is fascinating. And you are right about 1 and 2!

Maybe YOU could lead the way to publicise it.  You definitely have a way with words.

Many androgynes feel that their brains are neither male nor female (or both). If these studies show that transexual brains are like those of the (an) other gender, but not quite, does that mean that perhaps the difference between transexuals and androgynes is either one of degree or inner perception?

S

That's fascinating. You totally got to this article before me, Dana Lane

Quote from: rejennyrated on January 26, 2011, 04:25:32 PM
This is merely a further development of the work already done by Dr Vincent Harley in Australia ( that was the name you were looking for Stephanie ) about whom I have already posted many times.

It is also building on the work done in Holland by Professor Louis Gooren in Holland, the mid 1980's.

Basically the evidence for this has been out there since the 1980's but surprisingly it has been largely ignored by your American physicians because it effectively proves that this isn't a mental problem at all but a 100% MEDICAL one.

Two things tend to follow almost as day follows night.

1. There is no basis for insurance companies to refuse cover because this is now no different from a physical deformity - of the brain - which in any other condition they WOULD cover.

2. There is no basis for the counseling industry to make huge amounts of money out of effectively acting as gatekeepers if a simple brain scan can give a simple stop/go yes/no answer.

I wonder why the existing industry isn't keen for this to be further researched and publicised? 

All those brain structure studies are correlational, although it's possible that the brain differences causes transexuality those kind of studies aren't hard evidence. Double dissociational brain ablation studies would have to be done on both humans and animals, in where that area is damaged in the experimental group and another area is damaged in the control group to take in account that the change is not due to the amount of brain damage.  With people you have to wait until you find people with damage done to that area specifically and not surrounding tissue by an accident, which are incredibly rare.

My hunch is that there is no "gender center" and a study like that might not give good results, for example even if there was an area that might affect gender, but it could also control something that's less subtle than gender and that's more likely what would be measured by the research.

My understanding is that the latest research shows that the whole nature vs. nurture argument is based on a false dichotomy. That the human brain has a degree of plasticity and parts can slightly change based on environmental stimuli, and that there are parts that are "hardwired" or "preset," while others are more pliable and can adapt. If this is the case, it would suggest that even if someone doesn't have this "deformity," they're not necessarily not trans. Or perhaps this "deformity" is there but to a lesser degree. Like with research seeking to find a gay gene, I'm kind of ambivalent about it and skeptical that this sort of research will necessarily lead to a desirable outcome. Who's to say that even if they prove a difference in the brain, that this information won't be used against us? Who's to say that rather than approving HRT and SRS, insurance companies will instead seek a cheaper method of treatment to change the brain back to some falsely perceived "normal" state? Insurance companies don't want to have to provide the service you're paying them for if they can help it and will seek the cheapest option possible. Who's to say they won't just only cover the cost of some sort of "corrective" brain surgery? I can see this going in many different directions. Not to mention that if they find a way to screen babies for whether or not they'll be born trans, many people will seek abortions.

On a slightly different note, this sort of discussion always makes me think of Iain M. Banks' novels, in which the advanced civilization he writes about has the ability to change their sex at will. This is the norm in his futuristic society because it can be done so easily and can be just as easily reversed. I always wonder how many people who are not trans would change their sex for a day, week, month, or whatever, if we had such technology, just to see what it's like.

Quote from: Simone Louise on January 26, 2011, 05:06:24 PM
Many androgynes feel that their brains are neither male nor female (or both). If these studies show that transexual brains are like those of the (an) other gender, but not quite, does that mean that perhaps the difference between transexuals and androgynes is either one of degree or inner perception?

S

Well what it showed was that FTMs have guy brains and male gender identity  MTFs have ambivlent brains (half and half) but a female identity. it's not entierly clear why this is the way it is it's entirely clear why androgynes feel the way they do but it's entirely feasable they follow similar principles.

Quote from: pebbles on January 28, 2011, 10:43:19 AM
Well what it showed was that FTMs have guy brains and male gender identity  MTFs have ambivlent brains (half and half) but a female identity. it's not entierly clear why this is the way it is it's entirely clear why androgynes feel the way they do but it's entirely feasable they follow similar principles.

My guess would be that it reflects the unwanted, irreversible and damaging effects of the testosterone that we had to deal with for so many years. Just another reason why they should consider giving pre-pubescent children who are identifying as trans, puberty blockers.


Dawn