Includes bibliographical references (p. 211-269) and index.

Introduction : What makes us women -- The birth of the female brain -- Teen girl brain -- Love and trust -- Sex : the brain below the belt -- The mommy brain -- Emotion : the feeling brain -- The mature female brain -- Epilogue : the future of the female brain -- Appendix one : The female brain and hormone therapy -- Appendix two : The female brain and postpartum depression -- Appendix three : The female brain and sexual orientation.

While doing research as a medical student at Yale and then as a resident and faculty member at Harvard, Dr. Brizendine discovered that almost all of the clinical data on neurology, psychology, and neurobiology focused exclusively on males. In response to the need for information on the female mind, Brizendine established the first clinic in the country to study and treat women's brain function. At the same time, The National Institutes of Health began including female subjects in almost all of its studies for the first time. The result has been an explosion of new data. Here, Brizendine distills of this information in order to educate women about their unique brain-body-behavior. This book combines two decades of her own work, stories from her clinical practice, and the latest information from the scientific community at large to provide a comprehensive look at the way women's minds work.--From publisher description.