Brain protein may explain why girls talk more than boys

Previous studies have shown that women speak an average of 20,000 words a day, whereas men only speak 7,000, according to USA Today.

Now, scientists may know why: Women may have higher levels of a protein in their brain called FOXP2, which has been linked to verbal communication.

The study, which was published in the Journal of Neuroscience on Feb. 20, looked at young male and female rats. Male rats are known to be more vocal than their female counterparts.

Researchers counted the number of "ultrasonic range" cries -- meaning above the range of human hearing -- that the four-day-old rats when they were separated from their mothers for five minutes. Males were counted making twice as much cries compared to the females. They were also shown to have twice the amount of FOXP2 than their counterparts.

The researchers also noted that the mothers tended to look after their sons first when they were returned to the cage. They, then manipulated the production of FOXP2 in the rats so that the females made more protein and the males made less.

After this, they repeated the first experiment. The females emitted more cries, and the mothers were quicker to tend to them before the males.

The researchers also looked at FOXP2 levels in children. Levels in 4 and 5-year-old girls were 30 percent higher than in boys of the same age.

"Based on our observations, we postulate higher levels of Foxp2 in girls and higher levels of FOXP2 in male rats is an indication that FOXP2 protein levels are associated with the more communicative sex," Dr. Margaret McCarthy, a professor of pharmacology at University of Maryland's School of Medicine, told the Telegraph.

Cheryl Sisk, professor and director of the neuroscience program in the department ofpPsychology at Michigan State University, told Medical News Today that the higher levels of the FOXP2 protein does seem to correlate with more talking. She was not involved in the study.

"At first glance, one might conclude that the findings in rats don't generalize to humans, but the higher levels of Foxp2 expression are found in the more communicative sex in each species," she pointed out.

[BirdBrains1Pheasant1]

I thought it was because they never know when to shut up.

[judymar14]

Who comes up with stupid studies like this and who pays for them?

[samuel5028]

Perfect Truth :)

[hypnotoad72]

In terms of generalizations, perhaps.

Part of it is personality, part is biology, part is ambient environment...

[Meezermom1951]

One wonders if this is because too many families are still stuck in certain rolls. Mom talks to her daughters about a lot of things; cooking, fashion, make-up,boys and girls can talk about anything without being made to feel awkward. Dads talk to their sons-about sports and hooters! It's okay for daddy to talk with his little girl about anything she wants;rainbows and unicorns,etc. Moms are not really supposed to talk about sports and hooters to their sons! If you have a son who does not like sports, many fathers act like their have been cursed and don't really talk to their weirdo kid. Perhaps parents need to pull the cell phone out of their ear and talk to the kids as kids and show interest in anything and everything and help open their eyes to all things. I have three sons and no girl could talk as much as the oldest and the other two are keeping up with him. But their dad, who only wants to talk about sports, is left out and they have nothing to say to him.

[cntrygirl3]

I think the first part of this is a crock. However you made an extremely important statement with "pull the cell phones out of their ears and talk to the kids". I have observed women on the phone with a 3 or 4 year old who only gets her attention when he is doing something wrong. Guess what, he continually does something wrong and his mother screams at him, it is the only way he gets her attention imagine what this child is being taught

[fasteddieNY]

Men, on average, die 7 years younger than women and all I can say to that is Thank Christ. No way I can listen to 7 more years of babble. Besides, it is the last 7 years and those suck anyway.

[erasmus111]

"Men, on average, die 7 years younger than women and all I can say to that is Thank Christ."


Yes, women say the same. There is only so much "stupid" women can take. : )

[bar22mike]

Does the protein cause women to speak more or does it prevent them from being concise?

[erasmus111]

Men seem to get pissed if women are talking, and just as pissed if they stop talking to them. ??? Can't win.

"Previous studies have shown that women speak an average of 20,000 words a day..."

I really doubt that.

People have said to me, "If silence were golden, you would be rich".

[micmac666]

And all along they thought it was just to annoy me.