Brain-Based Genetic Differences in Girls and Boys

Girls Usually

Boys Usually

Hear better than boys.

Have 35 percent less hearing than girls due to the cochlea length in the ear.

Can discriminate between objects better than boys.

Locate objects better than girls.

Focus on faces and warm colors.

Focus on movement and cold colors.

Use the advanced portion of the brain.

Use more of the primitive parts of their brains.

Can explain and describe their feelings.

Find it difficult to talk about feelings.

Develop language and fine motor skills about six years earlier than boys.

Develop targeting and spatial memory about four years earlier than girls.

Multitask well and make easy transitions.

Focus on a task and transition more slowly.

Friendships are focused on other girls.

Friendships are focused on a shared activity.

Find conversation important.

Find conversation unnecessary.

Self-revelation and sharing are precious parts of a friendship.

Self-revelation is to be avoided if possible.

Enjoy a close relationship with a teacher.

May not ask for help to avoid being perceived as “sucking up” to a teacher.

Like to be faced, looked in the eye, and smiled at.

Avoid eye contact and prefer you sit beside them.

Retain sensory memory details well.

Don’t retain sensory details.

Do not deal with moderate stress well.

Deal with moderate stress well.

Want to be with friends when under stress.

Want to be alone when under stress.

Feel sick or nauseated when faced with threat and confrontation.

Feel excited when faced with threat and confrontation.

Prefer to read fiction.

Prefer to read nonfiction.