Hormones and the Brain

Gender

Sex Differences in the Brain: Do They Exist or Matter?

Joe Herbert M.B, Ph.D. on February 18, 2020

Some say that male and female brains are no different. Are they right? If there are differences, what does that tell us?

Some say that male and female brains are no different. Are they right? If there are differences, what does that tell us?

Genetics

The Mysterious Gene For Homosexuality

Joe Herbert M.B, Ph.D. on August 30, 2019

Is being gay inherited? If it is, what are the genes responsible?

Is being gay inherited? If it is, what are the genes responsible?

Gender

Three Fallacies About the Brain and Gender

Joe Herbert M.B, Ph.D. on July 21, 2019

Does studying the brain contribute usefully to discussions of gender inequality?

Does studying the brain contribute usefully to discussions of gender inequality?

Psychiatry

Why Psychiatry Is Still in the Nineteenth Century

Joe Herbert M.B, Ph.D. on June 23, 2019

Mental disorders are not well treated or understood. Do we know why this is?

Mental disorders are not well treated or understood. Do we know why this is?

Testosterone

Being A Twin May Damage Your Prospects In LIfe

Joe Herbert M.B, Ph.D. on March 22, 2019

The female twin from a male-female pair shows several significant differences in behavior from female-female twins. The cause: sharing the womb with a male? Testosterone?

The female twin from a male-female pair shows several significant differences in behavior from female-female twins. The cause: sharing the womb with a male? Testosterone?

Depression

Why Are Males Less Likely Than Women To Get Depression?

Joe Herbert M.B, Ph.D. on December 17, 2018

It seems that testosterone treatment may help some men with chronic depression to recover. Is this a new approach to therapy?

It seems that testosterone treatment may help some men with chronic depression to recover. Is this a new approach to therapy?

Health

The Scandal of Inequality and Its Effect on Mental Health

Joe Herbert M.B, Ph.D. on November 17, 2018

Financial inequality seems to be a major risk for mental illness. It's time we did something about it.

Financial inequality seems to be a major risk for mental illness. It's time we did something about it.

Health

Does Going to College Damage Our Kids' Mental Health?

Joe Herbert M.B, Ph.D. on August 24, 2018

Mental illness in university students appears to be on the rise. Is this really the case—and what can we do about it?

Mental illness in university students appears to be on the rise. Is this really the case—and what can we do about it?

Depression

There’s a Clock in Your Brain That Rules Your Life

Joe Herbert M.B, Ph.D. on April 4, 2018

A clock in your brain rules when you do most things. if it malfunctions, you can become decidedly unwell. Even depressed.

A clock in your brain rules when you do most things. if it malfunctions, you can become decidedly unwell. Even depressed.

Hormones

Why Your Hormones Could Lose You Money

Joe Herbert M.B, Ph.D. on February 27, 2018

Hormones play a powerful but unsuspected role in influencing financial decisions. Bankers need to take notice!

Hormones play a powerful but unsuspected role in influencing financial decisions. Bankers need to take notice!

Sexual harassment is an invention of the human brain. The inventiveness of the human brain makes harassment one inevitable feature of human behavior, but it also offers a remedy.

You might think that hormones such as testosterone have little to do with human behavior. But the recent evidence suggests otherwise. And it's not just a "male" hormone.

The origins of gender inequality go way back into our biological history. The evolution of the human brain has enabled us to develop increasingly effective ways of dealing with it.

A recent book on the poet Robert Lowell raises some fascinating questions about the relation between bipolar disorder and creativity

Sex

How the Brain Determines Sexuality

Joe Herbert M.B, Ph.D. on June 11, 2017

It has long been known that early exposure to testosterone has a powerful influence on later sexuality. Now we are beginning to understand how this might come about.

It has long been known that early exposure to testosterone has a powerful influence on later sexuality. Now we are beginning to understand how this might come about.

Gender

Gender Differences: Equality Versus Similarity

Joe Herbert M.B, Ph.D. on March 27, 2017

Some feminists deny that true gender differences in behavior exist: they mistake similarity with equality, and neglect an important source of individuality.

Some feminists deny that true gender differences in behavior exist: they mistake similarity with equality, and neglect an important source of individuality.

Even the Marines are recruiting women. What does this tell us about being war-like? Or about gender equality? And is it to be welcomed?

There are well-known associations between abuse or neglect early in life and later psychological or psychiatric complications. What do we know about what goes on in the brain?

Has the surge in our knowledge of the brain told us anything useful about the basis for gender identity?

Why is brain aging so individually variable? Can we do anything to delay cognitive decline?