Returning: Michael Mosley

On Monday on SBS Dr Michael Mosley and Professor Alice Roberts ask “Is your brain male or female?”

They say men are from Mars and women are from Venus. Gender stereotypes have shaped society’s beliefs that on average men are better at maths and engineering, while women are more emotional and superior multi-taskers, with science backing up some of these theories. But people have argued ferociously about what exactly causes these differences between the sexes: nature or nurture.

British television journalist Dr Michael Mosley is returning to Monday nights on SBS ONE, accompanied by Professor Alice Roberts, to investigate if male and female brains are really wired differently.

In this premiere documentary, Dr Michael Mosley and Professor Alice Roberts will explore new research which suggests that the connections in men and women’s brains follow different patterns – patterns which may explain typical forms of male and female behaviour. The duo will search for the truth behind the myths and argue whether or not male and female brain differences are innate, or if they are shaped by the world around us.

Using a team of human lab rats and a troop of Barbary monkeys, Michael and Alice test the science and challenge old stereotypes. They travel around the world to meet with leading researchers who are conducting studies on important topics, such as why females experience more pain than men and why autism affects nearly five times the number of males to females.

After analysing all of their results, they ask whether this new scientific research will benefit both men and women – or whether it could drive the sexes even further apart.

Monday, April 27 at 7.30pm on SBS ONE