You Are Gay Before Birth
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/5148
A new study claims to prove that sexual orientation is decided before birth, being "hard-wired" into the human brain along with other key traits.
The report, a combination of work between the University of East London (UEL) and the Institute of Psychiatry, investigates sex differences in the startle response - the eye-blink reaction to sudden loud noises.
According to a release today, it found that there was a notable difference between homosexual and heterosexual subjects.
And because the startle response is an involuntary reaction, rather than a product of environmental conditioing, researchers claim it is a strong indication that sexual orientation is determined before birth.
They add that the report is the first to offer independent evidence of a "non-learned neurological basis for sexual orientation", with other report linking foetal development with testosterone levels being hotly contested.
Scientists used a technique known as prepulse inhibition (PPI), which measures the strength of response to loud noises.
Results showed clear differences between the groups, with lesbians showing a markedly stronger inhibition (a PPI of 33%) compared to straight women (just 13%).
Although the difference between heterosexual men and gay men is less extreme, 40% vs 32% respectively, researchers claim the difference is still significant.
"The startle response is pre-conscious and cannot be learned, " UEL's Dr Qazi Rahman explained.
"It is mediated by an ancient region of the brain called the limbic system which also controls sexual behaviour."
Dr Rahman added that the findings could have a large impact on the way sexuality is treated, both culturally and during health programmes.
"These findings may well affect the way we as a society deal with sexuality and the issues surrounding sexual orientation," he said.
"They may also have far-reaching health implications, offering clues as to why men and women, and gay men and lesbians, sometimes suffer from different types of mental health disorders.
"If we know that certain groups differ from each other in brain function or a biological marker then we are in a position to provide better treatments which are tailored to suit particular groups".
A new study claims to prove that sexual orientation is decided before birth, being "hard-wired" into the human brain along with other key traits.
The report, a combination of work between the University of East London (UEL) and the Institute of Psychiatry, investigates sex differences in the startle response - the eye-blink reaction to sudden loud noises.
According to a release today, it found that there was a notable difference between homosexual and heterosexual subjects.
And because the startle response is an involuntary reaction, rather than a product of environmental conditioing, researchers claim it is a strong indication that sexual orientation is determined before birth.
They add that the report is the first to offer independent evidence of a "non-learned neurological basis for sexual orientation", with other report linking foetal development with testosterone levels being hotly contested.
Scientists used a technique known as prepulse inhibition (PPI), which measures the strength of response to loud noises.
Results showed clear differences between the groups, with lesbians showing a markedly stronger inhibition (a PPI of 33%) compared to straight women (just 13%).
Although the difference between heterosexual men and gay men is less extreme, 40% vs 32% respectively, researchers claim the difference is still significant.
"The startle response is pre-conscious and cannot be learned, " UEL's Dr Qazi Rahman explained.
"It is mediated by an ancient region of the brain called the limbic system which also controls sexual behaviour."
Dr Rahman added that the findings could have a large impact on the way sexuality is treated, both culturally and during health programmes.
"These findings may well affect the way we as a society deal with sexuality and the issues surrounding sexual orientation," he said.
"They may also have far-reaching health implications, offering clues as to why men and women, and gay men and lesbians, sometimes suffer from different types of mental health disorders.
"If we know that certain groups differ from each other in brain function or a biological marker then we are in a position to provide better treatments which are tailored to suit particular groups".
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