A new study has uncovered stunning differences in how sex and gender are reflected in the brain. By analyzing fMRI data from nearly 5,000 children, researchers found that brain networks associated with sex were distinct from those linked to gender.1
While sex-related patterns involved regions crucial for vision, sensory processing, movement, and decision-making, gender-related networks were more diffuse.
With many psychiatric disorders showing skewed prevalence between sexes, parsing the neural underpinnings of sex and gender could have major implications for mental health. The findings, published in Science Advances, open up a new frontier in our understanding of the brain.
The Mysteries of Sex & Gender in the Brain
The study is the first to comprehensively examine how sex and gender influence brain connectivity. Researchers used functional MRI (fMRI) data from the groundbreaking Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, which is tracking brain development in nearly 12,000 children over a decade.(ref)
fMRI measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow. The research team employed sophisticated machine learning algorithms to predict a child’s sex and gender based solely on patterns of brain connectivity. Remarkably, the AI was able to do so with significant accuracy.
However, the truly groundbreaking finding was that the brain networks linked to sex were distinct from those associated with gender. Sex-related patterns involved regions crucial for vision, sensory processing, movement, and decision-making.
Gender-related networks were more diffuse and not as strongly tied to specific brain areas.
Charting New Territory in Neuroscience
These results open up a new frontier in neuroscience, suggesting that sex and gender should be studied separately to fully understand the brain. The findings also raise intriguing questions about how and when these neural differences emerge and how they evolve across the lifespan.
“Moving forward, we really need to consider both sex and gender separately if we want to better understand the brain,” said study co-author Elvisha Dhamala, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and the Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, California.(ref)
Experts note that while physiological sex is largely determined by chromosomes, genes, hormones, and other biological factors, cultural ideas about gender also play a critical role in shaping people’s lives and behavior. However, sex and gender are often conflated in neuroscience research.
The study is not without limitations. The AI’s predictions were imperfect, and the snapshot nature of the data leaves many questions unanswered. But by demonstrating that sex and gender are not interchangeable in the brain, this research lays the groundwork for a more nuanced understanding of the biological and sociocultural factors that make us unique.
Implications for Mental Health & Precision Medicine
Understanding sex and gender differences in the brain could have major implications for mental health.
Many psychiatric disorders show skewed prevalence between sexes, such as ADHD being underdiagnosed in girls and anxiety being underdiagnosed in boys. Parsing the neural underpinnings of sex and gender may shed light on these disparities.
Moreover, this research aligns with the goals of precision medicine – tailoring diagnosis and treatment to an individual’s unique profile. By revealing the intricate interplay of sex and gender in the brain, studies like this bring us closer to truly personalized care.
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Martha A. Lavallie
Martha is a journalist with close to a decade of experience in uncovering and reporting on the most compelling stories of our time. Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, she specializes in shedding light on trending topics and captivating global narratives. Her insightful articles have garnered acclaim, making her a trusted voice in today's dynamic media landscape.