Geschwind–Galaburda hypothesis
Neurological theory / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Geschwind–Galaburda hypothesis is a neurological theory proposed by Norman Geschwind and Albert Galaburda in 1987.[1] The hypothesis posits there are sex differences in cognitive abilities by relating them to lateralisation of brain function.[1] The maturation rates of cerebral hemispheres differ and are mediated by circuiting testosterone levels, which are substantially influenced during the foetal and post-puberty development stages.[1]
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According to the hypothesis, testosterone delays the maturation of the brain, particularly the left hemisphere, resulting in corresponding regions of the right hemisphere and unaffected areas of the left hemisphere developing more rapidly.[1] This leads to reduced verbal skills and an increased risk of developing language disorders, e.g dyslexia, while a rapid development of the right hemisphere and the skills corresponding to it, such as attention and problem-solving.[1]
Focusing on foetal testosterone, the rise in levels hinders the development of the individual’s neurology and immunity, potentially explaining how cerebral lateralisation links to learning disorders, giftedness, and immune deficits.[1] In cases of an underdeveloped or functionally impaired left hemisphere, the neuroanatomical asymmetries may lead to compensatory activity in other areas of the brain.[1]
The field of “neuropsychology of individual differences” is concerned with the understanding the relationship between brain lateralisation and behaviour variation. In their work, Geschwind and Galaburda proposed that in order to explain the differences in cognitive abilities, it is dependent on prenatal exposure to testosterone.[1] This comprehensive theoretical framework links the association between brain development, testosterone levels, and cognitive abilities. The theory gathers a wide range of neuropsychological phenomena and their associations under a single theoretical umbrella.