Who knew? Men and Women and listening..................

[Lynn K.]

I found this fascinating. Explains alot about alot about alot! ha

Why Men Don't Listen to Women

He really isn't listening to you! But you won't believe the reason why.

When men and women speak, the human brain processes the sounds of those voices differently, Britain's Mirror and Agence France Presse report of a new study from the U.K.'s University of Sheffield. While most of us actually hear female voices more clearly, men's brains hear women's voices first as music. But it's not music. It's someone giving them a honey-do list. So the brain goes into overdrive trying to analyze what is being said.

Bottom line: Men have to work harder deciphering what women are saying because they use the auditory part of the brain that processes music, not human voices. Men's brains are not designed to listen to women's voices. It's not the pitch of the woman's voice, but rather the vibration and number of sound waves that cause the problem, notes Discovery News.

But guys have no trouble at all hearing each other because men use a much simpler brain mechanism at the back of the brain to decipher another man's voice and recognize it as speech.

"The female voice is actually more complex than the male voice, due to differences in the size and shape of the vocal cords and larynx between men and women, and also due to women having greater natural 'melody' in their voices. This causes a more complex range of sound frequencies than in a male voice," lead researcher Michael Hunter told The Mirror. "When men hear a male voice they process it in the 'mind's eye.' This is the part of the brain where people compare their experiences to themselves, so the man is comparing his own voice to the new voice."

Here's a really bizarre side effect: These findings help explain why people who suffer hallucinations usually hear male voices. It's just too hard for the brain to create a false feminine voice as accurately as it can create a false masculine voice.

The research findings were published in the journal NeuroImage

http://harvard.medvane.org/journals/20498/five

So there! They really, really, REALLY are trying! It's harder than we thought!

[Carolyn T.]

Lynn - This is very interesting information. Basically what you're saying is that we should give them a gentle rap on the head (tee hee) to get their attention and then start speaking. This would save we women from having to repeat everything. Seriously though, thanks for sharing this with us. Carolyn - Kerrville, TX

[Mary H.]

On top of all that, my husband is very hard of hearing, so you can imagine how many times I have to repeat something. It's gotten to be quite funny, because when I say something to him he automatically says "huh?" Usually if I give him time to process what I just said he will answer. He wears a hearing aid in one ear, but sometimes he doesn't have it on or turned up high enough. We have interesting conversations to say the least. Mary

[Mary H.]

When I want my DH to listen (and hear) me, I first ask him to come out of his "nothing box". Then he knows he is expected to answer. Maybe, what we need to do is sing to them instead :wink:

[Anne B.]

Hmmm. I'd like to hear some cross-cultural evidence. Are women's voices more "musical" than men's in non-western societies?

[Judy M.]

That's interesting, Lynn, but I really think they're just thinking about sports or sex! :lol: Judy in Torrance

[Judy M.]

On top of all that, my husband is very hard of hearing, so you can imagine how many times I have to repeat something. It's gotten to be quite funny, because when I say something to him he automatically says "huh?" Usually if I give him time to process what I just said he will answer. He wears a hearing aid in one ear, but sometimes he doesn't have it on or turned up high enough. We have interesting conversations to say the least. Mary

My hubby does the same thing! Is really comical (NOT!) He sometimes will say HUH? before I am even done with my sentence!

Maggie in E. Central Illinois

[Sherry B.]

Ritzy's comment about men's nothing box reminded me of one of the funniest videos I have ever watched. It is Mark Gungor speaking about men's brains and women's brains: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuMZ73mT5zM If the link doesn't work, just google Mark Gungor or nothing box.

[Cheryl F.]

Sounds like our DH's were just granted another excuse for not listening. :roll:

[Cheryl F.]

I've heard a similar story. If you want someone to hear and understand what you are saying talk in their right ear. It goes to the left side of the brain which is the cognitive portion. If you talk into the left ear it goes to the right side of the brain which the artsy/crafty side of the brain. Luckily I sit on the right side of my DH so every conversation goes into the correct ear. :lol:

[Cheryl F.]

men only listen to thier mothers or an other man so you need to have one of them tell your hubby what you need to say Happy

[Cheryl F.]

So that's why I have to text my DH when I have something important to say? I'm always on his left side....hmmm.