Inter-Network Brain Functional Connectivity in Adolescents Assigned Female at Birth Who Experience Gender Dysphoria

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Adolescent Psychology
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Gender dysphoria (GD) involves distress from incongruence between experienced gender and sex assigned at birth.
• Brain functional connectivity in adolescents with GD may relate to experienced gender, own-body perception, and sexual orientation.
• Developmental mechanisms for GD and same-sex attractions may share commonalities influencing brain organization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in brain functional connectivity among adolescents with GD and cisgender peers.
• To explore the relationship between brain organization, experienced gender, and sexual orientation in adolescents.
• To examine if brain functional organization in GD adolescents aligns with theories of self-perception and self-referential thinking.

Main Methods:

• Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) BOLD data analyzed using group independent component analysis.
• Inter-network functional connectivity (time-series correlations) estimated in 17 GD adolescents (AFAB), 17 cisgender girls, and 15 cisgender boys (ages 12-17).
• Multivariate partial least squares analyses used to compare functional connectivity patterns and relate them to sexual orientation.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in functional connectivity were found among cisgender boys, cisgender girls, and GD AFAB adolescents, with the largest differences between cisgender boys and GD AFAB.
• The brain's intrinsic functional organization in GD AFAB adolescents showed similarities to cisgender girls and differences from cisgender boys, varying with sexual orientation and age.
• Observed group differences and involved brain networks support the hypothesis of distinct brain functional organization in GD AFAB adolescents, linked to own-body perception and self-referential processing.

Conclusions:

• Adolescents with gender dysphoria assigned female at birth exhibit unique brain functional organization compared to cisgender peers.
• Brain functional organization in GD AFAB adolescents is generally more similar to cisgender girls than cisgender boys.
• Findings suggest that brain organization differences in GD AFAB adolescents are associated with networks involved in self-perception and self-referential thinking.