Gender- and handedness-related differences of forebrain oxygenation and hemodynamics

To elucidate gender- and handedness-related differences between the hemispheres of the brain in their metabolisms and hemodynamics, simultaneous monitoring by near-infrared (NIR) spectrophotometry of hemoglobin (Hb) in both hemispheres of the forebrain during the mirror drawing task (MDT) was performed. Bilaterally simultaneous increases of oxygenated Hb and decreases of deoxygenated Hb in forebrain occurred symmetrically in all cases of volunteer subjects except for two. There were gender- and handedness-related differences of hemodynamics between the hemispheres of the brain; NIR results showed that a large majority of women used both sides of the brain when concentrating on carrying out the MDT, whilst most men, especially left-handers, reacted mainly using the hemisphere which was 'dominant' according to handedness.