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Evolving knowledge of sex differences in brain structure, function, and chemistry.

Kelly P Cosgrove1, Carolyn M Mazure, Julie K Staley

  • 1Division of Psychiatry SPECT Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine and the Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, New Haven, Connecticut 06516, USA. kelly.cosgrove@yale.edu

Biological Psychiatry
|June 5, 2007
PubMed
Summary
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Healthy male and female brains exhibit distinct structural, functional, and neurochemical differences. Understanding these sex-specific brain variations is crucial for addressing psychiatric disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neuroimaging
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Clinical evidence shows sex differences in psychiatric disorder prevalence and progression.
  • Understanding sex-specific brain variations in healthy individuals is key to explaining sex differences in psychiatric disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing literature on sex differences in brain structure, chemistry, and function in mentally healthy individuals.
  • To establish a foundation for understanding sex-specific mechanisms in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of English-language literature (1980-November 2006) from MEDLINE searches.
  • Utilized keywords: sex, gender, PET, SPECT, MRI, fMRI, morphometry, neurochemistry, neurotransmission.
  • Focused on neuroimaging techniques like fMRI, PET, SPECT, and structural MRI.

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Main Results:

  • While overall brain structure is similar, significant sex differences exist.
  • Men generally have larger total brain volume, but women have a higher gray matter percentage, and men a higher white matter percentage.
  • Global cerebral blood flow is higher in women. Neurochemically, sex-specific differences in dopamine, serotonin, and GABAergic markers are evident.

Conclusions:

  • Healthy male and female brains display notable structural, functional, and neurochemical distinctions.
  • These sex-specific brain differences are foundational for understanding the etiology of neuropsychiatric disorders.
  • Knowledge of these differences can guide the development of sex-specific treatments for brain disorders.