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Louann Brizendine
FemaleDoc.jpg
Louann Brizendine in 2009.
Born (1952-12-30) December 30, 1952 (age 72)
Hazard,KyUnited States
Nationality American
Citizenship USA
Alma mater UC Berkeley, Yale School of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Known for Research on the effect of reproductive hormones on the brain and behavior
Scientific career
Fields Medicine

Louann Brizendine, born on December 30, 1952, is an American scientist. She is a neuropsychiatrist, which means she studies how the brain affects behavior and emotions. Dr. Brizendine is also a researcher and a professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She has written three books: The Female Brain (2006), The Male Brain (2010), and The Upgrade (2022).

Dr. Brizendine's Education Journey

Louann Brizendine studied at several well-known universities. From 1972 to 1976, she attended UC Berkeley. There, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in neurobiology, which is the study of the nervous system.

After that, she went to the Yale School of Medicine from 1976 to 1981. She earned her medical degree (MD) there. From 1982 to 1985, she completed a special training called a residency in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Research and Career Highlights

Dr. Brizendine's main research focuses on how women's moods are affected by hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers in our bodies. She is officially certified in both psychiatry and neurology, which is the study of the brain and nervous system.

In 1988, she joined the faculty at the UCSF Medical Center. She works at the Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute. Today, she holds a special position called the Lynne and Marc Benioff-endowed chair of psychiatry.

In 1994, Dr. Brizendine started the UCSF Women's Mood and Hormone Clinic. She is still the director of this clinic. The clinic helps women understand how hormones can affect their moods.

Books and Writing

Dr. Brizendine is known for her books that explore the differences between male and female brains. Her first book, The Female Brain, was published in 2006. This book received mixed reviews. Some people liked it, while others had concerns, especially about parts dealing with language.

Later, Dr. Brizendine said that The Female Brain might have focused too much on gender differences. She explained that "Males and females are more alike than they're different. After all, we are the same species."

In 2017, The Female Brain book was made into a romantic comedy movie. The film had the same name, The Female Brain. Dr. Brizendine's work was the main inspiration for the movie's main character.

She also wrote another book called The Male Brain. Dr. Brizendine has shared that emphasizing the differences between men and women in her books has helped them become best-sellers.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Louann Brizendine para niños

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