Is there a chatting woman in your life.. .there's a medical reason. |
Studies have confirmed that women talk considerably more than men do – up to tree times as much. In fact, one study showed that during an average day women spoke about 20,000 words compared to 7,000 words a day for the average man.
But why is there such a disparity between the sexes when it comes to chit chat?
Scientists at the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine are working on answers.
Their new study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, showed that female brains have higher levels of the protein FOXP2, a substance researchers have termed the “language protein.”
Previous studies have shown that FOXP2 is essential for speech production in both sexes.
As part of the study, scientists examined brain material from recently diseased 4 and 5 year old children and found that the females had 30% more FOXP2.
Speaking of his findings, lead researcher Mike Bowers told the Today Show:
“We can’t say that this is the end-all-be-all reasoning - but it is one of the first avenues with which we can start to explore why women tend to be more verbal than men.”
For further commentary I went to a chatty pub near my home to size up peoples’ reactions to the findings
“I really don’t know what to make of this,” said Sherry D. from Long Island, NY.
“I feel that women may talk more because they have more to do and say,” Sherry continued.
“They work, take care of children and entertain much more than men do. They also have ideas that need to be expressed in ways that people can understand. Talking more provides better explanations of what those ideas are. When women are done talking people get what it is that they said. Women also have a lot of feelings and want to express those as well. Feelings can be complicated and it often takes quite a bit of talking to fully express those feelings. If the brains of men and women are different it is for a reason - which is why research is important – not just to find out why people talk more but to find cures for cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.”
“Are you going to print everything I’m saying in the paper?” Sherry then inquired.
Speaking of the study from the male perspective, Frank K., from Queens, NY enthusiastically opined:
“It’s interesting isn’t it?”
Comments