New research shows clear differences in brain activity between straight and gay people, adding new evidence to the debate over whether sexuality is determined before birth.
Researchers at the Stockholm Brain Institute in Sweden used MRI scans to investigate a part of the brain called the amygdala, which processes certain emotions.
Researchers specifically chose the amygdala because it was “unlikely to be directly affected by learned patterns and behavior.”
The study examined the brains of 90 men and women — 50 heterosexual and 40 homosexual.
The results showed similarities between the brains of gay men and straight women, and straight men and homosexual women.
“Scientifically, it’s important evidence, but it’s by no means conclusive,” said Dr. Daniel Lieberman of the George Washington University Psychiatric Research Center. “The question is the environmental influence. Probably sexual orientation is a very complicated phenomenon.”
People who spoke to ABC 7’s Greta Kreuz were divided on matter.
“It’s definitely a choice,” said Clinton resident Eric Hood. “I still think it’s a choice. I don’t understand how they did that, but I still think like with computers: you get out what you put in. You can put things in to get out what you want.”
“I believe they’re born that way,” said Arlington resident Dawn Garrott, who believes the study backs up her opinion. “Bottom line, it gives credence to what I said before, about it being a part of a man or a woman when they’re born, that they’re gay or lesbian.”
The results of the study were published in the Proceedings of the US National Academy of Sciences.
Posts
