Sex, Maths and the Brain, a talk by Professor Gina Rippon (Aston University)
Abstract
Is there such a thing as a maths brain? Are mathematicians born or made? Is the lack of girls in maths subjects a ‘brain’ problem?
The under‐representation of women in mathematics and mathematics‐related subjects is a source of concern, to educators, to policy makers, and to women mathematicians themselves. As with many areas of gender differences in behaviour and ability, there is a history of attempts to explain such differences in terms of brain structure and function. An underlying assumption (not always unspoken) is that if such differences are biologically based, they are ‘natural’, inevitable and unchangeable. This talk will consider the contribution of contemporary brain imaging techniques to the understanding of gender differences in the world of mathematics. It will challenge the ‘biology is destiny’ approach by demonstrating the exquisite plasticity of the human brain and its responsiveness to simple training regimes, with positive downstream consequences for mathematical performance. Finally, it will show that studies of the brain activity associated with social phenomena such as ‘stereotype threat’ demonstrate that the under‐representation of women in mathematics is not a “biological problem with social consequences” but actually a “social problem with biological consequences”.
No charge is made to attend meetings and non-members are welcome.
