Gina Rippon
Professor of Cognitive Neuroimaging | Aston University
Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM
Professor Rippon has been at the forefront of the study of the brain and gender for many years.
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Biography
Professor Rippon is a British neurobiologist and feminist. She is a professor emeritus of cognitive neuroimaging at the Aston Brain Centre, Aston University, Birmingham. Rippon has also sat on the editorial board of the International Journal of Psychophysiology. In 2019, Rippon published her book, Gendered Brain: The New Neuroscience that Shatters the Myth of the Female Brain, which investigates the role of life experiences and biology in brain development.
Her research involves the application of brain imaging techniques, particularly electroencephalography, (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) using cognitive neuroscience paradigms to studies of normal and abnormal cognitive processes. She is especially interested in the functional significance of variations in the frequency characteristics of cortical signals and in mapping functional connectivity between cortical areas. This work has most recently been applied to the study of Autistic Spectrum Disorders and to developmental dyslexia.
Additionally, since her arrival at Aston, she has been working with the MEG research team to explore ways of harnessing the temporal resolution of this technique to the spatial resolution possible with functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). This allows us to explore classic cognitive neuroscience problems in, for example, linguistic processing, learning and memory and affect-cognition interactions and to track the spatiotemporal dynamics of the underlying neuronal networks.
Areas of Expertise (6)
Cognitive Neuroimaging
Electroencephalography
Magnetoencephalography
Psychophysiology
Neuroscience
Cortical Signals
Accomplishments (1)
Honorary Fellow of the British Science Association
2015
Education (2)
University of London: PhD, Psychophysiology 1982
University of London: BA, Psychology 1975
Affiliations (3)
- European Union Gender Equality Network
- WISE
- ScienceGrrl
Links (5)
Media Appearances (4)
Why neuroscience is still searching for a gendered brain
Frontline online
2022-11-11
Gina Rippon says that could be due to age. Rippon is a neurobiologist from Aston University in the UK who has focussed much of her career on fighting what she calls “neurosexism” — gender bias in neurological studies.
The Gendered Brain - Gina Rippon and myth shattering neuroscience
ABC online
2020-05-24
In her book The Gendered Brain: The New Neuroscience that Shatters the Myth of the Female Brain, British cognitive neuroscientist Professor Gina Rippon, digs into the history of science’s efforts to pin sex differences on the brain.
Women's brains ARE built for science. Modern neuroscience explodes an old myth
CBC online
2019-09-20
Dr. Gina Rippon says there's no difference between boys and girls in terms of their aptitude for science, based on the large number of psychological skills surveys over the years.
Meet the neuroscientist shattering the myth of the gendered brain
The Guardian online
2019-02-24
After you arrive, explains cognitive neuroscientist Gina Rippon in her riveting new book, The Gendered Brain, the big reveal will be hidden within some novelty item, such as a white iced cake, and will be colour-coded. Cut the cake and you’ll see either blue or pink filling. If it is blue, it is a…
Articles (3)
How hype and hyperbole distort the neuroscience of sex differences
PLoS biology2021 Sex/gender differences in the human brain attract attention far beyond the neuroscience community. Given the interest of nonspecialists, it is important that researchers studying human female–male brain difference assume greater responsibility for the accurate communication of their findings.
Gender issues in fundamental physics: Strumia’s bibliometric analysis fails to account for key confounders and confuses correlation with causation
Quantitative Science Studies2021 Alessandro Strumia recently published a survey of gender differences in publications and citations in high-energy physics (HEP). In addition to providing full access to the data, code, and methodology, Strumia (2021) systematically describes and accounts for gender differences in HEP citation networks. His analysis points both to ongoing difficulties in attracting women to HEP and an encouraging—though slow—trend in improvement.
Embracing diversity and inclusivity in an academic setting: Insights from the Organization for Human Brain Mapping
Neuroimage2021 Scientific research aims to bring forward innovative ideas and constantly challenges existing knowledge structures and stereotypes. However, women, ethnic and cultural minorities, as well as individuals with disabilities, are systematically discriminated against or even excluded from promotions, publications, and general visibility. A more diverse workforce is more productive, and thus discrimination has a negative impact on science and the wider society, as well as on the education, careers, and well-being of individuals who are discriminated against. Moreover, the lack of diversity at scientific gatherings can lead to micro-aggressions or harassment, making such meetings unpleasant, or even unsafe environments for early career and underrepresented scientists.
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