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Cortical thickness in untreated transsexuals
Leire Zubiaurre-Elorza1, Carme Junque, Esther Gómez-Gil
1Departamento de Psiquiatría y Psicobiología Clínica.
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|September 4, 2012
Summary
Brain imaging reveals that untreated female-to-male transsexuals (FtMs) exhibit cortical thickness patterns similar to cisgender females, while male-to-female transsexuals (MtFs) show patterns resembling cisgender females. These findings suggest a link between gender identity and brain structure.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Sex differences in cortical thickness (CTh) are well-documented.
- Limited research exists on CTh in transsexual individuals before hormonal intervention.
- Understanding brain structure in relation to gender identity is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cortical thickness (CTh) patterns in untreated transsexual individuals.
- To determine if CTh aligns with biological sex or gender identity.
- To explore potential neurobiological underpinnings of gender identity.
Main Methods:
- Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was conducted on 94 participants.
- Participants included untreated female-to-male (FtMs) and male-to-female (MtFs) transsexuals, and cisgender male and female controls.
- Cortical thickness and subcortical volumes were analyzed using FreeSurfer software.
Main Results:
- Cisgender females had thicker cortices than cisgender males in frontal and parietal regions.
- FtMs showed CTh similar to cisgender females and greater CTh than cisgender males in parietal and temporal regions.
- MtFs exhibited CTh similar to cisgender females and greater CTh than cisgender males in orbitofrontal, insular, and medial occipital regions.
Conclusions:
- FtMs demonstrated subcortical gray matter masculinization, aligning with their gender identity.
- MtFs displayed cortical thickness feminization, also aligning with their gender identity.
- In both groups, sex-related brain differences were predominantly observed in the right hemisphere.
