This chapter provides a developmental perspective to understanding neural and behavioral
sex differences, focusing on cognition. There are sex differences in many skills, with sizes
depending upon the aspect of cognition; the largest difference is in spatial skills. Differences
arise in several ways, including social factors such as experience, genes, and sex hormones
present during prenatal life and later in life (eg, adolescence). There are sex differences in
several aspects of brain structure and function, too, although most are small. The origins of …