Cognition, gender differences

There appear to be gender differences in the pharmacokinetics of selective benzodiazepines such as chlordiazepoxide and diazepam. As would be predicted from studies evaluating the effect of OCs on various P450 enzymes, the levels of hydroxylated and demethylated benzodiazepines are increased in OC users, and the levels of conjugated benzodiazepines are decreased in OC users. Importantly, however, the pharmacokinetic effect may not always predict the impairment on psychomotor and cognitive tasks seen in women who are concurrently given OCs and benzodiazepines. 

In this context, gender differences may be an important factor, particularly because women have a greater incidence of depression. Generally, women have lower seizure thresholds than men. Further differences in lateralization of brain function may produce differences in cognitive side effects, particularly fewer side effects with UND ECT in women (132). 

Wang RH, Bejar C, Weinstock M (2000) Gender differences in the effect of rivastigmine on brain cholinesterase activity and cognitive function in rats. Neuropharmacology 39 497-506. 

Turner, R. C., Lindsay, H. A. (2003). Gender differences in cognitive and noncognitive factors related to achievement in organic chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education, 80(5), 563-568. 

The developmental task is to acquaint these individuals with their own cultural patterns. Many intercultural professionals include such topics in their diversity work, such as nonverbal behavior, communication styles, values, interaction rituals, conflict styles, cognitive styles, and learning styles. (Topics such as identity development, stereotyping, privilege, gender, power, and prejudice are best promoted in the ethnorelative/difference-seek-ing mindsets.) These topics draw from many disciplines, but all are employed in the examination of meaning making. 

As for receivers characteristics, these contain demographic variables such as gender, age, work seniority, cultural and educational background, product or task familiarity and training, and individual differences. The researches on individual issue focus on the Need for Cognition measured... 

Evidence related to a gender effect has been inconsistent. Waggoner et al. (1990) obtained developmental and IQ scores on 298 patients. Mean IQ scores of fonales aged 10-16 and > 16 were significantly lower than males. Kauftnann et al. (1995a) failed to identify sex differences in the broad cognitive ability scores assessed in 40 children and adults by the Woodcock-Johnson revised tests. 

As often done in behavioral research, we also analyzed the effects of gender and age. In all three studies (Taieb-Maimon and Shinar, Ben-Yaacov et aL, and Shinar and Schechtman) there were no consistent significant differences between males and females and no differences between the younger and older drivers. This indicates, that men and women do not differ in the perceptual-cognitive skills that are needed to estimate headways, and that age or driving experience is not a relevant issue - at least as long as all drivers are neither young novice drivers nor older than 60 years old. 

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