Cordelia Fine on Neuromyths / all in the mind R4

[Neurotrash]

Apologies for starting yet another thread I probably can't keep up with but I've just caught this on radio 4 regarding various Neurological myths eg brain gym and 'pink and blue brains.'

Thought it might be an interesting listen. Testosterone Rex by her is worth a read.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001l83

I listened to this earlier. Quite clear about debunking male and female brains but no mention of the trans debate!

Yes, I heard this and was thinking about posting a link here. Obvioulsy, as a feminist, I like to hear about this kind of research but it's especially reassuring now.

I liked the point that even differences which do seem to appear in the brain aren't necessarily innate. Wish I could remember more details - I might listen again actually!

but no mention of the trans debate!

As I’ve said on another thread, this silence is significant in itself. I’ve read Delusions of Gender and Testosterone Rex and, IIRC, there’s one reference to a transsexual, none to transgender.

It’s like writing about language and ignoring aphasia or memory and ignoring amnesia.

We learn so much about the brain from lessons or anomalies.

Lesions.

I'm actually just finished reading Testosterone Rex and although she doesn't mention anything about transsexuals / transgender ideology specifically she does nod to ideas like 'more than one sex' and 'identity'.

Still a brilliant book.

Oh obviously I meant more than two sexes. Oops.

there’s one reference to a transsexual

Oh was there? OK then, I remembered it all being rather vague.

But anyway she's definitely hedging her bets on the issue. Which is a bit strange considering the nature of her expertise, but she perhaps just doesn't want to be vilified. It's pretty obvious that the conclusions of her books are completely incompatible with extremist transgender ideology.

The pink blue brain thing is as much about anti gender stereotypes and women's liberation as proof that you can't be a woman trapped in a mans body.

Also, her research (afaik) isn't focused on gender dysphoria so I believe it's right she's not 'wading in to the debate'. She doesn't need to; her research speaks for its self and others are able to use it (gender critical people) to prove the social construct of gender.

The programme was also very useful for highlighting things like the brain being plastic, and how everyone's brains are organised very differently, different areas doing different things in different people hence probably why some people can recover from major brain injury (glad Betty Edwards was mentioned, brilliant book but good to clarify the left right brain nonsense.)