The size of the corpus callosum in males and females: Implications of a lack of allometry.

Abstract

There is much disagreement in the literature about whether or not certain parts of the corpus callosum show a sexual dimorphism. Amidst this debate, a rather surprising area of agreement is neglected: Even though there are dramatic overall sex differences in brain size (brain size being quite directly related to body surface), the corpus callosum of males and females shows no such drastic size difference. The significant of this lack of allometry is discussed in terms of putative functions of the corpus callosum. At present, there is no reason to assume that whatever can or cannot be said about sex differences in corpus callosum parameters cannot also be said more generally about large and small brains.