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den Braber, A., van ‘t Ent, D., Stoffers, D., Linkenkaer-Hansen, K., I. Boomsma, D., & J.C. de Geus, E. (2013). Sex differences in gray and white matter structure in age-matched unrelated males and females and opposite-sex siblings. International Journal of Psychological Research, 6, 7–21. https://doi.org/10.21500/20112084.712
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To give up copyright, the authors allow that, International Journal of Psychological Research, distribute the work more broadly, check for the reuse by others and take care of the necessary procedures for the registration and administration of copyright; at the same time, our editorial board represents the interests of the author and allows authors to re-use his work in various forms. In response to the above, authors transfer copyright to the journal, International Journal of Psychological Research. This transfer does not imply other rights which are not those of authorship (for example those that concern about patents). Likewise, preserves the authors rights to use the work integral or partially in lectures, books and courses, as well as make copies for educational purposes. Finally, the authors may use freely the tables and figures in its future work, wherever make explicit reference to the previous publication in International Journal of Psychological Research. The assignment of copyright includes both virtual rights and forms of the article to allow the editorial to disseminate the work in the manner which it deems appropriate.
The editorial board reserves the right of amendments deemed necessary in the application of the rules of publication.
Abstract
Apart from the general finding of larger global brain volumes in men, neuroimaging studies that compared brain structure between men and women have yielded some inconsistencies with regard to regional differences. One confound when comparing men and women may be differences in their genetic and or family background. A design that addresses such confounds compares brain structures between brothers and sisters, who share their genetic and family background.
In the present study, we aimed to contribute to the existing literature on structural brain sex differences by comparing regional gray and white matter volume, using voxel based morphometry (VBM); and white matter microstructure, using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS), between 40 unrelated males and females, and contrasting the results with those obtained in a group of 47 opposite-sex siblings, including 42 dizygotic opposite-sex (DOS) twin pairs.”
Our results showed that men had larger global brain volumes as well as higher mean fractional anisotropy across the brain and showed regionally enlarged gray matter volume and higher fractional anisotropy in, or surrounding, subcortical structures (hypothalamus, thalamus, putamen and globus pallidus and rostral midbrain). Increased gray matter volume in women was restricted to areas of the cortex, including inferior temporal, insular, cingulate, precentral and frontal/prefrontal regions.
These sex differences were generally consistent between the unrelated male-female pairs and the opposite-sex sibling pairs. Therefore, we conclude that these sex differences are not the result of confounding differences in genetic or family background and that the etiology of these sex differences merits further investigation.
In the present study, we aimed to contribute to the existing literature on structural brain sex differences by comparing regional gray and white matter volume, using voxel based morphometry (VBM); and white matter microstructure, using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS), between 40 unrelated males and females, and contrasting the results with those obtained in a group of 47 opposite-sex siblings, including 42 dizygotic opposite-sex (DOS) twin pairs.”
Our results showed that men had larger global brain volumes as well as higher mean fractional anisotropy across the brain and showed regionally enlarged gray matter volume and higher fractional anisotropy in, or surrounding, subcortical structures (hypothalamus, thalamus, putamen and globus pallidus and rostral midbrain). Increased gray matter volume in women was restricted to areas of the cortex, including inferior temporal, insular, cingulate, precentral and frontal/prefrontal regions.
These sex differences were generally consistent between the unrelated male-female pairs and the opposite-sex sibling pairs. Therefore, we conclude that these sex differences are not the result of confounding differences in genetic or family background and that the etiology of these sex differences merits further investigation.
Keywords:
References
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Altemus, M. (2006). Sex differences in depression and anxiety disorders: potential biological determinants. Hormones and Behavior, 50, 534-538.
Assaf, Y., & Pasternak, O. (2008). Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based white matter mapping in brain research: a review. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience, 34, 51-61.
Bao A. M., & Swaab, D. F. (2010). Sex differences in the brain, behavior, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Neuroscientist, 16, 550-565.
Basser, P. J., & Pierpaoli, C. (1996). Microstructural and physiological features of tissues elucidated by quantitative-diffusion-tensor MRI. Journal of Magnetic Resonance - Series B, 111(3), 209-219.
Beaulieu, C. (2002). The basis of anisotropic water diffusion in the nervous system - a technical review. NMR in Biomedicine, 15, 435-455.
Bekker, M. H., van Mens-Verhulst, J. (2007). Anxiety disorders: sex differences in prevalence, degree, and background, but gender-neutral treatment. Gender Medicine, 4(Suppl. B), S178-S193.
Bishop, K. M., & Wahlsten, D. (1997). Sex differences in the human corpus callosum: myth or reality? Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 21, 581-601.
Abel, K. M., Drake, R., Goldstein, J. M. ( 2010). Sex differences in schizophrenia. International Review of Psychiatry, 22, 417-428.
Alexander, G. E., DeLong, M. R., & Strick, P. L. (1986). Parallel organization of functionally segregated circuits linking basal ganglia and cortex. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 9, 357-381.
Allen, J. S., Damasio, H., Grabowski, T. J., Bruss, J., & Zhang, W. (2003). Sexual dimorphism and asymmetries in the gray-white composition of the human cerebrum. Neuroimage, 18, 880-894.
Altemus, M. (2006). Sex differences in depression and anxiety disorders: potential biological determinants. Hormones and Behavior, 50, 534-538.
Assaf, Y., & Pasternak, O. (2008). Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based white matter mapping in brain research: a review. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience, 34, 51-61.
Bao A. M., & Swaab, D. F. (2010). Sex differences in the brain, behavior, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Neuroscientist, 16, 550-565.
Basser, P. J., & Pierpaoli, C. (1996). Microstructural and physiological features of tissues elucidated by quantitative-diffusion-tensor MRI. Journal of Magnetic Resonance - Series B, 111(3), 209-219.
Beaulieu, C. (2002). The basis of anisotropic water diffusion in the nervous system - a technical review. NMR in Biomedicine, 15, 435-455.
Bekker, M. H., van Mens-Verhulst, J. (2007). Anxiety disorders: sex differences in prevalence, degree, and background, but gender-neutral treatment. Gender Medicine, 4(Suppl. B), S178-S193.
Bishop, K. M., & Wahlsten, D. (1997). Sex differences in the human corpus callosum: myth or reality? Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 21, 581-601.
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