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Sleep during development: Sex and gender differences

Patricia Franco1, Benjamin Putois1, Aurore Guyon1

  • 1Sleep Pediatric Unit, Woman Mother Child Hospital, Civil Hospices of Lyon, Lyon1 University, F-69500, France; Physiology of Brain Arousal System Research Laboratory, CRNL, INSERM-U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Lyon1 University, Lyon, F-69000, France.

Sleep Medicine Reviews
|February 29, 2020
PubMed

Insights

This review explores sex and gender differences in brain development and sleep during childhood. Understanding these variations is crucial for child health and development.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Sleep Science

Background:

  • Sleep is vital for brain development, especially during childhood.
  • Sex and gender differences are observed in brain maturation and various health conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review sex and gender differences in brain maturation and plasticity related to sleep in developing children.
  • To examine differences in sleep physiology and duration between boys and girls.

Main Methods:

  • This study is a narrative review.
  • It synthesizes existing literature on sleep, brain development, and sex/gender differences.

Main Results:

  • Early life sleep patterns and brain development show sex and gender-related variations.
  • These differences impact overall neurodevelopment and plasticity.

Conclusions:

  • Acknowledging sex and gender differences in sleep is essential for understanding child development.
  • Further research can inform tailored health and developmental strategies.

Keywords:
AdolescentsChildrenGenderInfantMaturationSex-specificSleep

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