frontal lobe news stories on Newser

Reckless Teens Have More Mature Brains

Nick McMaster — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:22:51 CDT

Conventional wisdom says that teens who experiment with drugs, sex, and other risky behaviors do so because their brains—specifically the frontal-lobe areas responsible for decision making—are immature. But a new study turns that notion upside down, suggesting that risky teens have more mature brains than teens who play...

Big Differences Found in Male, Female Brains

Peter Fearon — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:28:35 CDT

The brains of men and women are so physically different they amount to different organs and may have developed from distinct genetic blueprints, new research shows. Distinct anatomical differences between male and female brains likely explain many well-established differences of perception and behavior between the sexes, from problem-solving strategies to...

Aging Brain, Not Racism, Explains Elderly Gaffes

Jonas Oransky — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:03:10 CDT

Grandma’s verbal faux pas might signal not that she’s more prejudiced than younger relatives, but rather that she’s unable to disguise or overcome stereotypes, a study shows. Anecdotal evidence suggests, and earlier studies confirmed, that older Americans are more racist, but new research shows age-related brain shrinkage may be behind...