A recent study conducted by Joel Frohlich and colleagues at the University of Tubingen in Germany suggests that brain activity in baby girls may be more complex than that in baby boys. Using magnetoencephalography (MEG), the researchers measured the magnetic fields produced by the brain’s electrical currents in fetuses and babies in response to sound stimuli.
The study included 43 third-trimester fetuses and 20 babies aged between 13 and 59 days old. The fetuses were exposed to sound stimuli through a “sound balloon” placed between the pregnant person’s abdomen and the MEG sensors. The researchers then recorded the magnetic brain activity in response to the sound stimuli and analyzed various measures reflecting the complexity of the MEG signal.
Surprisingly, the researchers found that the complexity of brain signals decreased significantly faster in male fetuses and babies compared to female ones as the nervous system developed. This decrease in complexity was unexpected, as higher levels of neural complexity in adults are typically associated with better cognitive performance and faster reaction times.
The reason for this decrease in complexity is not entirely clear, but the researchers speculate that it may be related to the elimination of unnecessary cells and connections in the developing brain. As the brain matures, it organizes into more ordered patterns of neural connections, leading to fewer ways of responding to stimuli and lower complexity.
While the study sheds light on gender differences in brain development during early life, further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and whether these differences persist beyond infancy. Nonetheless, the findings provide valuable insights into the complex process of brain development in both male and female infants.
