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A comment on Greater male than female variability in regional brain structure (Paper). Parent comment

Re:Greater male than female variability in regional brain st... by lliamander on Thursday February 20, 2020 @01:13PM (#22377168)
Interesting. So, my understanding is that most male violence is committed by males between the ages of 15 and 25 (roughly). That is also generally the period of highest testosterone levels in men. What would cause the spike in violence if not the elevated testosterone levels?

I have a couple guesses:

1. This may be a period in which men experience the greatest status uncertainty and so may resort to violence in an attempt to solidify their place in a social hierarchy.

2. This is generally the age range during which many disorders that are more prevalent or severe in men (such as schizophrenia, bi-polar, etc.) begin to manifest.

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Re:Greater male than female variability in regional brain st... by belorn on Thursday February 20, 2020 @03:32PM (#22378307)
15 to roughly 25 is the period when the frontal cortex is maturing, and also the period where peer influence has the most impact on development. The frontal cortex is highly involved in silencing the fear response, and in determining the socially correct response to threats, particularly threats towards a person's social position (a common theme for studies around violence).

1) I have not read any study however that looked at periods of social uncertainty, but it sounds plausible.

2) My guess would go towards the relation of frontal cortex maturation. Before fully maturation, other parts of the brain "step in" and handle some of the frontal cortex' role, but by around age 25 they stop doing that.

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Re:Greater male than female variability in regional brain st... by lliamander on Friday February 21, 2020 @05:58PM (#22387851)
> My guess would go towards the relation of frontal cortex maturation. Before fully maturation, other parts of the brain "step in" and handle some of the frontal cortex' role, but by around age 25 they stop doing that.

So, do you mean that such disorders originate from the frontal cortex, and that the reason they manifest by 25 or so is because it is at that point that the frontal cortex is no longer "supported" by other parts of the brain and it's flaws become apparent? Interesting if so.

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