FOOD STIMULI AND GENDER

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2.1.2 Eating Behavior and Gender
Gender differences related to food behavior are well documented, and the underlying
neurobiology is an area of investigation (Del Parigi et al., 2002). The size and morphology
of some areas of the human brain have presented sex differences; hormones produced by the
gonads at the development stage influence behavior patterns to a great extent. These
hormones cause mostly irreversible sex differences in central nervous system function
(MacLusky & Naftolin, 1981). Some gender differences and hemispheric asymmetries were
reported (Gur et al., 1995). These observations support the assumption that emotional and
cognitive gender differences could have a biological foundation (Del Parigi et al., 2002).
Gender-based anatomical differences of the brain should not be underestimated, as all lobes
of the brain display gender differences that should not be attributed solely to hormones
(Cahill, 2006).

Figure 3: “Sex Differences in the Size of Various Human Brain Regions”

(Cahill, 2006)