In this talk for the Girls School Association, I address the problem of neurosexism - the use of neuroscience to explain the difference between male and female attainment in STEM and mathematics in particular. I begin by explaining the problems of drawing a direct link between brain architecture and complex mental functions and why the bridge between neuroscience and education is currently a bridge too far. I then address the well documented difference between males and females on mathematical performance and provide a critical analysis of three accounts: brain differences, male IQ distributions and cultural segregation. As part of that critical analysis, I explain how an effect size is calculated and what it means when comparing groups. Finally, I point to analysis of the gender bias across nations to reveal that the gap is predicted by the gender gap index which an overall measure of gender equality.

Distinguished Contribution Award: British Psychology Society

In many ways, humans have become a self-domesticating species selecting for characteristics that are best suited for cooperation, co-existence and coordination. Part of that process is the development of a sense of identity or self. The sense of self is so compelling that we rarely question exactly what it is. When we talk about our self, we usually refer to an autobiographical memory of identity. Or we may be asked to give insight into our immediate consciousness such as, “Tell me what you think?” In both cases, we experience a unity of identity but I would argue that is an illusion that our brains generate to maintain a coherent narrative that summarizes the multitude of influences, factors and past experiences that generate our thoughts and behaviours. In this talk I will argue that we have become self-domesticated, uncovering the illusion of self and how this is formed over our lifetimes.

This is the talk I did at TAM2012. I particularly like the intro by my good friend, the amazing George Hrab

Taster for a documentary on the origins of beliefs