How much of sexual diversity is the result of nature versus nurture? Prevailing theories today lean heavily toward nature. Now a leading researcher in neuroscience and animal behavior shows how, in recent history, scientific claims about sex and gender differences have reflected the culture of the time. Although the conviction that genetics can explain everything is now widespread, the author demonstrates the interaction of culture and environment in the formation of behavioral traits and so provides an important corrective to popular notions of reductionism.

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This volume explores both simple and sophisticated techniques used in the study of different types of lateralization of brain and behavior. Part II covers neurobiological methods used to reveal lateralization, such as lesion studies, electrophysiology and pharmacology, early gene expression, and new optogenetic methods.