Young Avoiding STEM – What Neural Sex Differences Can and Cannot Tell Us

Despite the projected rise in job opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in coming years, students in the United States trail several other nations in their performance in these disciplines. Moreover, the lack of women pursuing careers in these fields has been raising concern across America. Identifying the reasons contributing to the relative absence of women in STEM positions and developing relevant solutions could help bolster the United States’ presence in a world rapidly increasing its reliance on technology.

Though research has consistently demonstrated sex differences in performance in specific cognitive tasks, analysis of standardized test scores from recent years suggests that men and women have a similar understanding of mathematical principles. Accordingly, girls and boys appear to perform comparably in mathematics during their primary school years.

However, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have shown differences in neural activation patterns in men and women during performance of cognitive tasks in which they perform at equal levels. Such findings are perhaps not surprising given the sex differences in the functional organization of the brain and the observations that males and females use different cognitive strategies during learning.

Whereas the neural differences in men and women may not underlie differences in mathematical ability, they may partly explain the difference in the tendency for men and women to pursue careers in STEM. Certain sex differences appear to be present from birth and are thus not attributable to cultural influences. For example, newborn girls spend more time gazing at human faces, whereas newborn boys spend more time gazing at mechanical objects. These observations are consistent with the enhanced tendency for females to process emotional information and to perform better in cognitive tasks that incorporate emotional and social information. The way such information differentially influences male and female learning is likely a result of evolution. Indeed, it has been demonstrated even in bees that reproductive success, in females specifically, is enhanced by cooperative abilities that rely on perceiving and engaging in complex social behaviors.

Though cultural factors are often cited as deterrents for women’s entrance to STEM careers, the asymmetry in male and female representation in STEM jobs likely results from both cultural and biological influences. That the mechanisms of cognition and learning are different in males and females suggests that academic performance for members of each sex may differ based on how individuals are taught.

Accordingly, the adaptation of STEM courses to facilitate female learning may affect girls’ enthusiasm and perceived competence in STEM. Understanding the nature of biological and social influences on female selection of STEM careers and creating interventions to mitigate these factors are essential for our ability to keep up with other economies.

It is A Letter From Our President and Co-Founder, Dr. Jeff Wells

About one year ago, I had breakfast to advise a college student considering applying to medical school.  He had been interested in medicine for quite some time, but was beginning to second-guess his plans.  He shared that he had recently volunteered in a healthcare facility and was surprised by the number of people, especially physicians, who were negative about the current state of healthcare.  On more than one occasion, he was advised not to go into medicine.  He additionally shared concern, both from his own reading, but also propagated by many in the healthcare delivery field, regarding health reform and what it might mean in the years ahead.  What would this uncertainty mean, and was it worth taking a risk to enter the field at this time?

He is not alone in his concerns.  I have had many conversations with those involved in healthcare delivery in recent years that share a similar concern, if not outright pessimism.  There are countless news releases and articles published weekly that echo these sentiments – coming physician and nursing shortages, increased wait times for patients, drastically changing regulations and oversight from government and commercial payers leading to more administrative work for healthcare workers to name a few. Healthcare costs continue to grow at rates that outpace inflation (and wages), the burden of poor health is now even more clearly impacting U.S. corporate competitiveness, and patients are increasingly seeking guidance as the healthcare system becomes ever more complex to navigate.

In the face of these challenges, when asked whether I see any reason to be optimistic about the future, I respond with a resounding, “Yes!”  I could not be more certain of the potential for tomorrow because I see it every day at our company.  We built OurHealth around the concept that healthcare can and must be delivered differently.  We believe that we can help lead a transformation toward a system that is inherently patient-centered, and value-focused.  By thinking differently about the model for primary care delivery we streamline access to providers, and the results show.  98% of OurHealth patients would recommend their experience to a friend or co-worker. This is an unprecedented satisfaction score in any field, let alone healthcare. Additionally, we can help support patients, in an unbiased way, to more effectively navigate the healthcare system when additional diagnostic studies or referrals are needed. Our integrated model with health coaches available for consultation is also unique and highly regarded by patients.  This is a reflection that all too often patients are not lacking awareness of what is needed to improve their health, rather there is a desire to get help on how to lose weight, eat healthier, or better manage their blood sugar.

And this integrated health management model has not only been good for patients, but also for the employers we work with, who have seen lowered costs in addition to healthier, more engaged employees.  This positive experience, and our continued growth, has positioned us to invest in growing our model to many employers that were previously unable to access the benefits of our model.  OurHealth will be opening its MyClinic network in July of this year in Indianapolis – a shared network of multiple clinic locations throughout the city accessible to employers of any size.  This model eliminates the barriers of a large up-front investment and the limited accessibility to healthcare providers often faced by smaller employers, while also meeting the needs of large, distributed workforces.

It has been a tremendously rewarding experience to be part of a growing organization with such talented team members working tirelessly everyday to best improve patient’s health.  This great experience to date and the opportunity to expand our reach to even more organizations and their employees and family members gives me ample reasons to be optimistic about the future of not only our organization and the patients we serve, but the future of healthcare in America more broadly.

And if it wasn’t already obviously, I advised that college student the same way I would if he asked me the same question again today.  First, follow your passion.  And, should it lead you to the field of medicine, do not hesitate – the future is very bright indeed.