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The human cerebral cortex: gender differences in structure and function.

G M de Courten-Myers1

  • 1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0529, USA.

Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology
|April 10, 1999
PubMed
Summary
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Male and female brains show subtle structural differences, impacting cognitive functions and disease susceptibility. These brain sex differences may explain gender-specific advantages and limitations in cognition.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Human Anatomy

Background:

  • Subtle cognitive differences between males and females are widely recognized.
  • Psychometric tests reveal gender-specific performance variations, particularly in spatial and mathematical tasks.
  • Despite cognitive differences, routine brain examinations show minimal sexual dimorphism, except for size and weight.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the structural underpinnings of gender-specific cognitive differences in the human brain.
  • To explore how brain sexual dimorphism relates to variations in cognitive functions and disease prevalence.
  • To examine the implications of neuronal overproduction and loss in explaining gender disparities in brain injury outcomes and dementia.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of brain structures, including the hypothalamus, planum temporale, and cerebral cortex.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of neuronal density, number estimates, and neuropil in male and female cortices.
  • Review of existing literature on brain development, neuronal overproduction, and testosterone's role in neuronal involution.

    • Main Results:

    • Human brains exhibit sexual dimorphism in specific regions: a larger sexually dimorphic nucleus in the hypothalamus of males, larger left planum temporale/anterior Sylvian fissure in males, and differing corpus callosum morphology.
    • Cerebral cortex cytoarchitecture shows sexual dimorphism, with males having higher neuronal densities and numbers, while females have more neuropil (neuronal processes).
    • Males have a higher prevalence of mental retardation and learning disabilities, potentially due to less nerve cell overproduction and subsequent loss during development.
    • Females exhibit a higher incidence of dementia, possibly linked to greater neuronal and dendritic loss in the context of lower initial neuronal numbers.

    Conclusions:

    • Distinct sexually dimorphic features exist in the male and female cerebral cortex, superimposed on a foundation of functional and structural equality.
    • These morphological differences provide a potential structural basis for observed gender-specific cognitive advantages and limitations.
    • Understanding brain sexual dimorphism is crucial for explaining gender disparities in neurological and psychiatric conditions.