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Variation in orbitofrontal cortex volume: relation to sex, emotion regulation and affect
B Locke Welborn1, Xenophon Papademetris, Deidre L Reis
1Department of Psychology, UCLA, CA, USA.
Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
|December 19, 2009
Summary
Men and women show distinct brain structures, particularly in the orbitofrontal cortex. Ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) volume in women relates to emotion regulation strategies and affective differences.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- Brain Anatomy
Background:
- Sex differences in brain structure are well-documented but functional correlates remain unclear.
- Understanding these differences is crucial for comprehending behavior and cognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate sex differences in local brain structure.
- Examine the relationship between orbitofrontal cortex subregions and affective individual differences.
Main Methods:
- Used tensor-based morphometry on MPRAGE images from 117 healthy adults (58 female).
- Employed a General Linear Model (GLM) controlling for age, intelligence, and whole-brain volume.
Main Results:
- Men exhibited larger left planum temporale.
- Women showed larger ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), right lateral orbitofrontal cortex (rlOFC), cerebellum, and basal ganglia.
- vmPFC volume correlated with emotion regulation (reappraisal, suppression), positive emotion expressivity, emotional impulse strength, and cognitive anxiety.
Conclusions:
- Confirms prior findings on sex differences in orbitofrontal cortex structure.
- Novelly demonstrates that normal variation in vmPFC volume is linked to emotion regulation and affective traits.
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