The organ inside your head that controls your body and allows you to think, feel, and remember.
From Old English “brægen,” meaning “brain,” related to similar words in other Germanic languages. Its deep roots show that people have always known this organ was special, even before they understood how it worked.
Your brain is only about 2% of your body weight but uses around 20% of your body’s energy, even when you’re resting. The old word for it stuck because nothing else in the body rivals its power or mystery.
The word brain has been central in pseudoscientific claims about inherent gender differences in intelligence and capability. For centuries, arguments about brain size and structure were used to justify excluding women from education and professional life.
Avoid unsupported claims about ‘male’ vs. ‘female’ brains; when discussing research, emphasize individual variation and the limits of current science. Use neutral language about cognitive abilities unless strong, consensus evidence exists.
When addressing neuroscience history, note how women scientists challenged biased theories and how women’s intellectual achievements undermined claims of innate inferiority.
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