Functional brain networks are associated with both sex and gender in children

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10(28)

Published: July 12, 2024

Sex and gender are associated with human behavior throughout the life span across health disease, but whether they similar or distinct neural phenotypes is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that, in children, sex uniquely reflected intrinsic functional connectivity of brain. Somatomotor, visual, control, limbic networks preferentially sex, while network correlates more distributed cortex. These results suggest that irreducible to one another not only society also biology.

Language: Английский

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Leveraging research into sex differences and steroid hormones to improve brain health

Nature Reviews Endocrinology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 25, 2024

Language: Английский

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“Precision Medicine” and the Failed Search for Binary Brain Sex Differences to Address Gender Behavioral Health Disparities

American Journal of Human Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 37(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Human brain imaging took off in the 1980s and has since flooded zone analysis of gender differences behavior mental health. Couched aims “precision medicine,” vast majority this research taken a binary approach, dividing participants according to M/F box at intake asserting that sex found neuroimaging will lead important advances for treating neuropsychiatric disorders. However, actual findings from 40‐year project have not lived up its promise, part because over‐binarization general ignorance as complex variable influencing human function. This paper reviews history failed claims about male–female difference modern era, illuminates deep‐pocketed incentives driving such research, examines limitations approach understanding gender‐related health disparities. It then considers more recent efforts “break binary” by using measures “gender” addition “sex” an independent studies. Given multidimensional nature gender—as identity, expression, roles relations—this is challenging implement, with initial producing little substance. Better approaches addressing disparities require focusing on specific behaviors (e.g., anxiety, risk‐taking, verbal memory, spatial navigation) components body size, hormone levels, gene caregiver role, financial independence, discrimination) when seeking brain‐behavior correlates diverse population.

Language: Английский

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Neuroanatomy Reflects Individual Variability in Impulsivity in Youth

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 23, 2025

A bstract Individual differences in neural circuits underlying emotional regulation, motivation, and decision-making are implicated many psychiatric illnesses. Interindividual variability these may manifest, at least part, as individual impulsivity both normative clinically significant levels. Impulsivity reflects a tendency towards rapid, unplanned reactions to internal or external stimuli without considering potential negative consequences coupled with difficulty inhibiting responses. Here, we use multivariate brain-based predictive models explore the bases of across multiple behavioral scales, neuroanatomical features (cortical thickness, surface area, gray matter volume), sexes (females males) large sample youth from Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study baseline (n=9,099) two-year follow-up (n=6,432). is significantly associated variability, associations vary scales features. broadly maps onto cortical thickness dispersed regions (e.g., inferior frontal, lateral occipital, superior entorhinal), well area volume specific medial parahippocampal, cingulate) polar frontal temporal) territories. Importantly, while relationships stable time points, others sex-specific dynamic. These results highlight complexity between neuroanatomy features, sexes, points youth. findings suggest that neuroanatomy, combination other biological environmental factors, key driver As such, markers help identify increased risk for developing impulsivity-related Furthermore, this work emphasizes importance adopting multidimensional approach neuroimaging research.

Language: Английский

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Nutritional interventions to counteract the detrimental consequences of early-life stress

Molecular Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 27, 2025

Exposure to stress during sensitive developmental periods comes with long term consequences for neurobehavioral outcomes and increases vulnerability psychopathology later in life. While we have advanced our understanding of the mechanisms underlying programming effects early-life (ES), these are not yet fully understood often hard target, making development effective interventions challenging. In recent years, others suggested that nutrition might be instrumental modulating possibly combatting ES-induced increased risk psychopathologies impairments. Nutritional strategies very promising as they relatively safe, cheap easy implement. Here, set out comprehensively review existing literature on nutritional aimed at counteracting ES preclinical clinical settings. We identified eighty six rodent ten human studies investigating a intervention ameliorate The evidence date, is too few heterogeneous terms interventions, thus allowing conclusions, however studies, despite their heterogeneity designs, used, measured, showed Furthermore, discuss possible involved beneficial brain after ES, including neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation microbiome-gut-brain axis. Lastly, highlight critical gaps current knowledge make recommendations future research move field forward.

Language: Английский

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Exploring the association between anhedonia and nicotine dependence: A study among female undergraduate students in Saudi Arabia

Tobacco Induced Diseases, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 23(April), P. 1 - 10

Published: April 30, 2025

Nicotine dependence and its psychological foundations, including anhedonia, are major public health issues, especially among young adults. There is a dearth of knowledge regarding nicotine anhedonia female Thus, this study aimed to investigate the associations between undergraduate students. A cross-sectional was conducted in March 2024, 449 students, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using Fagerström test for (FTND) Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS). total students participated study. The majority aged 18-20 years (62.8%). found that 11.4% participants reported use, primarily e-cigarettes (66.7%). users higher parental [45.1% vs 26.4%, χ2(1)=7.770, p=0.005] sibling use [52.9% 30.7%, χ2(1)=17.992, p=0.001]. Mental conditions more prevalent [39.2% 15.1%, p<0.001]. Logistic regression identified mental (OR=4.44, p<0.001), (OR=2.37, p=0.006), (OR=2.27, p=0.01) as key predictors use. Anhedonia present 19.8% participants, associated with [38.2% 12.8%, χ2(1)=31.501, p<0.001], [27% 7.5%, χ2(1)=8.309, [46.1% 30%, χ2(1)=26.857, (OR=3.47, p<0.001) (OR=3.34, strongly predicted anhedonia. study's results support notion discomfort influences demonstrating substantial association Given influence familial there an immediate need targeted interventions address both social aspects.

Language: Английский

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Longitudinal development of sex differences in the limbic system is associated with age, puberty and mental health

medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 30, 2025

Abstract Sex differences in mental health become more evident across adolescence, with a two-fold increase of prevalence mood disorders females compared to males. The brain underpinnings remain understudied. Here, we investigated the role age, puberty and determining longitudinal development sex structure. We captured limbic non-limbic structures using machine learning models trained cross-sectional imaging data 1132 youths, yielding estimates sex. Applied two independent samples (total: 8184 youths), our revealed pronounced structure increasing age. For females, was sensitive pubertal (menarche) over time and, for structures, mood-related health. Our findings highlight system as key contributor potential classification investigate sex-specific processes relevant

Language: Английский

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Considering the interconnected nature of social identities in neuroimaging research

Nature Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 27, 2024

Language: Английский

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Making Sense of Sex in Neuroscience

Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 4(2), P. 100292 - 100292

Published: March 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Mental rotation-related neural interactions between gender and cognitive strategy

Imaging Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 2, P. 1 - 18

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Abstract A long-standing history of research has focused on the differences between men and women in cognitive tasks, including that would be more accurate faster than mental rotation (MR). This advantage suggests use an object-based strategy (OBS) to perform MR, whereas rely effector-based (EBS). To test this hypothesis, participants present study performed MR using OBS EBS (plus a control condition) while their brain activity was recorded fMRI. As sex hormones have often been reported influence spatial ability, we also assessed relationship testosterone levels digit ratio. Behavioral results showed (1) conditions, (2) were condition, (3) better other two conditions. No found or fMRI data condition had greater activation inferior frontal somatosensory cortices. Salivary no effect whole-brain activity. Combining behavioral imaging data, these findings suggest additional during somehow affects preventing purely promoting body-based sensorimotor processing, which result lower accuracy. These support gender explained by considering with strategies used MR.

Language: Английский

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