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Guido G, Bonato A, Bonomi S, Franceschini S, Morris JC. Handedness in Alzheimer Disease: A Systematic Review. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2024; 38:298-304. [PMID: 39177174 DOI: 10.1097/wad.0000000000000640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
Handedness has been a topic of scientific interest for many years. However, false and misleading ideas have dominated this field with a still limited amount of research into the association with clinical disorders like Alzheimer disease (AD). In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for studies regarding the association of handedness and AD. Twelve articles were included. Case-control studies show that left-handedness is not a risk factor for late-onset AD (LOAD). However, nonright handedness was found to be more prevalent in patients with early-onset AD (EOAD). Moreover, handedness does not seem to affect neuropsychological performance. We also show that collapsing versus separating mixed and left-handedness may yield different results. Future research on the relation between handedness and AD may provide new insight into disease pathogenesis, improve rehabilitation, and help identify patients who will progress, aiding the design of prevention trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Guido
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania
| | - Alberto Bonato
- Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Samuele Bonomi
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Simone Franceschini
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
| | - John C Morris
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
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2
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Samadi SA. Handedness in autism spectrum disorders and intellectually disabled children and adolescents - Contrasting caregivers' reports with assessments of hand preference. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25935. [PMID: 38380041 PMCID: PMC10877286 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background A higher rate of atypical handedness prevalence (non-right-handedness or left-, mixed-hand dominance) has been recurrently reported in individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to individuals with other types of developmental disabilities. However, the exact magnitude of this difference as well as the presence of possible contributing factors remained unknown. The main aim of this study was to understand caregivers' impression of the handedness of their child with developmental disabilities and its relationship with assessments of the child using a hand preference scale. Methods and procedures The sample of the present study was 1116 individuals with developmental disabilities from two countries, 541 (51.5%) individuals from Iran and 575 (48.5%) individuals from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The handedness of the sample was evaluated based on the parental report and utilizing a standardized scale (The Hand-Preference Demonstration Test "HPDT"). Outcomes and results There was a statistically significant difference between caregivers' reports on their dependents' handedness and the application of a valid hand preference scale and they do not necessarily overlap. There was a statistically significant relationship between handedness and type of developmental disabilities based on caregivers' reports and individuals with ASD were more non-right-handed compared to individuals with ID based on the caregivers' report. Hence similar difference was not seen between the ASD and ID groups when HDTP was applied as a diagnostic scale. While left-handedness in the ASD and ID group was similar (23-24%), mixed-handedness in the ASD group was 38% compared to 33% in the ID group. Conclusions and implications The Hand-Preference Demonstration Test (HPDT) was a valid way to determine the hand preference of individuals with ASD and ID. It is concluded that parental reports on their offspring with ASD's hand preference need to be approved through the application of a scale and caregivers and professionals need to be more aware of early motor symptoms such as handedness. Further research should focus on the role of handedness in the development of fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination in children with differing developmental disabilities and variations among those differing impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayyed Ali Samadi
- Institute of Nursing and Health Research, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences University of Ulster Shore Rd, Co Antrim, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, UK
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3
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Eliot L. Remembering the null hypothesis when searching for brain sex differences. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:14. [PMID: 38336816 PMCID: PMC10854110 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-024-00585-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Human brain sex differences have fascinated scholars for centuries and become a key focus of neuroscientists since the dawn of MRI. We recently published a major review in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews showing that most male-female brain differences in humans are small and few have been reliably replicated. Although widely cited, this work was the target of a critical Commentary by DeCasien et al. (Biol Sex Differ 13:43, 2022). In this response, I update our findings and confirm the small effect sizes and pronounced scatter across recent large neuroimaging studies of human sex/gender difference. Based on the sum of data, neuroscientists would be well-advised to take the null hypothesis seriously: that men and women's brains are fundamentally similar, or "monomorphic". This perspective has important implications for how we study the genesis of behavioral and neuropsychiatric gender disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lise Eliot
- Stanson Toshok Center for Brain Function and Repair, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science, North Chicago, IL, USA.
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4
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Sanchis-Segura C, Wilcox RR, Cruz-Gómez AJ, Félix-Esbrí S, Sebastián-Tirado A, Forn C. Univariate and multivariate sex differences and similarities in gray matter volume within essential language-processing areas. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:90. [PMID: 38129916 PMCID: PMC10740309 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00575-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex differences in language-related abilities have been reported. It is generally assumed that these differences stem from a different organization of language in the brains of females and males. However, research in this area has been relatively scarce, methodologically heterogeneous and has yielded conflicting results. METHODS Univariate and multivariate sex differences and similarities in gray matter volume (GMVOL) within 18 essential language-processing brain areas were assessed in a sex-balanced sample (N = 588) of right-handed young adults. Univariate analyses involved location, spread, and shape comparisons of the females' and males' distributions and were conducted with several robust statistical methods able to quantify the size of sex differences and similarities in a complementary way. Multivariate sex differences and similarities were estimated by the same methods in the continuous scores provided by two distinct multivariate procedures (logistic regression and a multivariate analog of the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test). Additional analyses were addressed to compare the outcomes of these two multivariate analytical strategies and described their structure (that is, the relative contribution of each brain area to the multivariate effects). RESULTS When not adjusted for total intracranial volume (TIV) variation, "large" univariate sex differences (males > females) were found in all 18 brain areas considered. In contrast, "small" differences (females > males) in just two of these brain areas were found when controlling for TIV. The two multivariate methods tested provided very similar results. Multivariate sex differences surpassed univariate differences, yielding "large" differences indicative of larger volumes in males when calculated from raw GMVOL estimates. Conversely, when calculated from TIV-adjusted GMVOL, multivariate differences were "medium" and indicative of larger volumes in females. Despite their distinct size and direction, multivariate sex differences in raw and TIV-adjusted GMVOL shared a similar structure and allowed us to identify the components of the SENT_CORE network which more likely contribute to the observed effects. CONCLUSIONS Our results confirm and extend previous findings about univariate sex differences in language-processing areas, offering unprecedented evidence at the multivariate level. We also observed that the size and direction of these differences vary quite substantially depending on whether they are estimated from raw or TIV-adjusted GMVOL measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Sanchis-Segura
- Departament de Psicologia Bàsica Clinica I Psicobiología, Facultat de Ciències de La Salut, Universitat Jaume I, Avda Sos Baynat, SN, 12071, Castelló, Spain.
| | - Rand R Wilcox
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | | | - Sonia Félix-Esbrí
- Departament de Psicologia Bàsica Clinica I Psicobiología, Facultat de Ciències de La Salut, Universitat Jaume I, Avda Sos Baynat, SN, 12071, Castelló, Spain
| | - Alba Sebastián-Tirado
- Departament de Psicologia Bàsica Clinica I Psicobiología, Facultat de Ciències de La Salut, Universitat Jaume I, Avda Sos Baynat, SN, 12071, Castelló, Spain
| | - Cristina Forn
- Departament de Psicologia Bàsica Clinica I Psicobiología, Facultat de Ciències de La Salut, Universitat Jaume I, Avda Sos Baynat, SN, 12071, Castelló, Spain
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Kheloui S, Jacmin-Park S, Larocque O, Kerr P, Rossi M, Cartier L, Juster RP. Sex/gender differences in cognitive abilities. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105333. [PMID: 37517542 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Sex/gender differences in cognitive sciences are riddled by conflicting perspectives. At the center of debates are clinical, social, and political perspectives. Front and center, evolutionary and biological perspectives have often focused on 'nature' arguments, while feminist and constructivist views have often focused on 'nurture arguments regarding cognitive sex differences. In the current narrative review, we provide a comprehensive overview regarding the origins and historical advancement of these debates while providing a summary of the results in the field of sexually polymorphic cognition. In so doing, we attempt to highlight the importance of using transdisciplinary perspectives which help bridge disciplines together to provide a refined understanding the specific factors that drive sex differences a gender diversity in cognitive abilities. To summarize, biological sex (e.g., birth-assigned sex, sex hormones), socio-cultural gender (gender identity, gender roles), and sexual orientation each uniquely shape the cognitive abilities reviewed. To date, however, few studies integrate these sex and gender factors together to better understand individual differences in cognitive functioning. This has potential benefits if a broader understanding of sex and gender factors are systematically measured when researching and treating numerous conditions where cognition is altered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kheloui
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada; Center on Sex⁎Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Silke Jacmin-Park
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada; Center on Sex⁎Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Ophélie Larocque
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada; Center on Sex⁎Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Philippe Kerr
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada; Center on Sex⁎Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Mathias Rossi
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada; Center on Sex⁎Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Louis Cartier
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada; Center on Sex⁎Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Robert-Paul Juster
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada; Center on Sex⁎Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada.
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Fan J, Zhu Z, Chen Y, Yang C, Li X, Chen K, Chen X, Zhang Z. SORL1 rs1699102 Moderates the Effect of Sex on Language Network. J Alzheimers Dis 2023:JAD221133. [PMID: 37212098 DOI: 10.3233/jad-221133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Language ability differs between the sexes. However, it is unclear how this sex difference is moderated by genetic factors and how the brain interacts with genetics to support this specific language capacity. Previous studies have demonstrated that the sorting protein-related receptor (SORL1) polymorphism influences cognitive function and brain structure differently in males and females and is associated with Alzheimer's disease risk. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sex and the SORL1 rs1699102 (CC versus T carriers) genotype on language. METHODS 103 non-demented Chinese older adults from Beijing Aging Brain Rejuvenation Initiative (BABRI) database were included in this study. Participants completed language tests, T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and resting-state functional MRI. Language test performance, gray matter volume, and network connections were compared between genotype and sex groups. RESULTS The rs1699102 polymorphism moderated the effects of sex on language performance, with the female having reversed language advantages in T carriers. The T allele carriers had lower gray matter volume in the left precentral gyrus. The effect of sex on language network connections was moderated by rs1699102; male CC homozygotes and female T carriers had higher internetwork connections, which were negatively correlated with language performance. CONCLUSION These results suggest that SORL1 moderates the effects of sex on language, with T being a risk allele, especially in females. Our findings underscore the importance of considering the influence of genetic factors when examining sex effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialing Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhibao Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Yaojing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Caishui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Kewei Chen
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Banner Alzheimer's Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Xiaochun Chen
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Zhanjun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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7
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Senatorial signatures Absence of male-female differences in left-handedness. Politics Life Sci 2023; 41:38-44. [PMID: 36877107 DOI: 10.1017/pls.2021.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
A greater frequency of left-handedness among males than females has been observed in general populations. Past studies have explained this difference with reference to males' greater susceptibility to adverse birth events, while more recent studies have identified other contributing factors. On January 16, 2020, U.S. senators signed an oath to act impartially during the president's impeachment trial. This televised event allowed direct comparison of the proportion of right-handedness and left-handedness in a professionally accomplished sample of males and females. As expected, no sex difference in the proportion of left-handed senators was found, although the small sample size offered low statistical power. Replicating this finding with a larger sample would support the view that left-handedness among select groups of males is linked to genetic factors.
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8
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Tarchi L, Damiani S, Vittori PLT, Frick A, Castellini G, Politi P, Fusar-Poli P, Ricca V. Progressive Voxel-Wise Homotopic Connectivity from childhood to adulthood: Age-related functional asymmetry in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Dev Psychobiol 2023; 65:e22366. [PMID: 36811370 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Homotopic connectivity during resting state has been proposed as a risk marker for neurologic and psychiatric conditions, but a precise characterization of its trajectory through development is currently lacking. Voxel-Mirrored Homotopic Connectivity (VMHC) was evaluated in a sample of 85 neurotypical individuals aged 7-18 years. VMHC associations with age, handedness, sex, and motion were explored at the voxel-wise level. VMHC correlates were also explored within 14 functional networks. Primary and secondary outcomes were repeated in a sample of 107 adults aged 21-50 years. In adults, VMHC was negatively correlated with age only in the posterior insula (false discovery rate p < .05, >30-voxel clusters), while a distributed effect among the medial axis was observed in minors. Four out of 14 considered networks showed significant negative correlations between VMHC and age in minors (basal ganglia r = -.280, p = .010; anterior salience r = -.245, p = .024; language r = -.222, p = .041; primary visual r = -.257, p = .017), but not adults. In minors, a positive effect of motion on VMHC was observed only in the putamen. Sex did not significantly influence age effects on VMHC. The current study showed a specific decrease in VMHC for minors as a function of age, but not adults, supporting the notion that interhemispheric interactions can shape late neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livio Tarchi
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefano Damiani
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Andreas Frick
- Department of Medical Sciences, Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Giovanni Castellini
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Politi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Paolo Fusar-Poli
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,OASIS Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Valdo Ricca
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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9
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Bartha-Doering L, Kollndorfer K, Schwartz E, Fischmeister FP, Langs G, Weber M, Lackner-Schmelz S, Kienast P, Stümpflen M, Taymourtash A, Mandl S, Alexopoulos J, Prayer D, Seidl R, Kasprian G. Fetal temporal sulcus depth asymmetry has prognostic value for language development. Commun Biol 2023; 6:109. [PMID: 36707693 PMCID: PMC9883513 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04503-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In most humans, the superior temporal sulcus (STS) shows a rightward depth asymmetry. This asymmetry can not only be observed in adults, but is already recognizable in the fetal brain. As the STS lies adjacent to brain areas important for language, STS depth asymmetry may represent an anatomical marker for language abilities. This study investigated the prognostic value of STS depth asymmetry in healthy fetuses for later language abilities, language localization, and language-related white matter tracts. Less right lateralization of the fetal STS depth was significantly associated with better verbal abilities, with fetal STS depth asymmetry explaining more than 40% of variance in verbal skills 6-13 years later. Furthermore, less right fetal STS depth asymmetry correlated with increased left language localization during childhood. We hypothesize that earlier and/or more localized fetal development of the left temporal cortex is accompanied by an earlier development of the left STS and is favorable for early language learning. If the findings of this pilot study hold true in larger samples of healthy children and in different clinical populations, fetal STS asymmetry has the potential to become a diagnostic biomarker of the maturity and integrity of neural correlates of language.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Bartha-Doering
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kathrin Kollndorfer
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Division of Neuroradiology and Muscoskeletal Radiology, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ernst Schwartz
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Computational Imaging Research Lab, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Ph.S. Fischmeister
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Division of Neuroradiology and Muscoskeletal Radiology, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.5110.50000000121539003Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria ,grid.452216.6BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Georg Langs
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Computational Imaging Research Lab, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Weber
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Division of Neuroradiology and Muscoskeletal Radiology, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sonja Lackner-Schmelz
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Division of Neuroradiology and Muscoskeletal Radiology, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Patric Kienast
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Division of Neuroradiology and Muscoskeletal Radiology, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marlene Stümpflen
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Division of Neuroradiology and Muscoskeletal Radiology, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Athena Taymourtash
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Computational Imaging Research Lab, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sophie Mandl
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johanna Alexopoulos
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniela Prayer
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Division of Neuroradiology and Muscoskeletal Radiology, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rainer Seidl
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gregor Kasprian
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Division of Neuroradiology and Muscoskeletal Radiology, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Abstract
There is now a significant body of literature concerning sex/gender differences in the human brain. This chapter will critically review and synthesise key findings from several studies that have investigated sex/gender differences in structural and functional lateralisation and connectivity. We argue that while small, relative sex/gender differences reliably exist in lateralisation and connectivity, there is considerable overlap between the sexes. Some inconsistencies exist, however, and this is likely due to considerable variability in the methodologies, tasks, measures, and sample compositions between studies. Moreover, research to date is limited in its consideration of sex/gender-related factors, such as sex hormones and gender roles, that can explain inter-and inter-individual differences in brain and behaviour better than sex/gender alone. We conclude that conceptualising the brain as 'sexually dimorphic' is incorrect, and the terms 'male brain' and 'female brain' should be avoided in the neuroscientific literature. However, this does not necessarily mean that sex/gender differences in the brain are trivial. Future research involving sex/gender should adopt a biopsychosocial approach whenever possible, to ensure that non-binary psychological, biological, and environmental/social factors related to sex/gender, and their interactions, are routinely accounted for.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Hodgetts
- School of Psychology, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK
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Friedrichs K, Kellmeyer P. Neurofeminism: Feminist critiques of research on sex/gender differences in the neurosciences. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:5987-6002. [PMID: 36180041 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Over the last three decades, the human brain and its role in determining behavior have been receiving a growing amount of attention in academia as well as in society more generally. Neuroscientific explanations of human behavior or other phenomena are often especially appealing to lay people. Therefore, neuroscientific explanations that can affect individuals, groups, or social relations in general should be formulated in a careful and responsible way. One field in which especially feminist scholars request more caution is the neuroscientific examination of sex/gender differences. Feminist scholars have described various ways in which sexist bias might be present in neuroscientific research on sex/gender differences. In this context, they coined the term "neurosexism" to describe the entanglement between neuroscientific work and sexist ideology, and "neurofeminism" as a response to that. Here, we aim to give an overview over the contemporary neurofeminist literature. In the first part, common levels of analysis in the neurofeminist literature are presented and the research level is explored in more detail. In the second part, some common developments in more recent neurofeminist scholarship are discussed. For this, we review recent publications with the aim to provide neuroscientists with a solid understanding of neurofeminist criticism so that they may evaluate neuroscientific claims about on sex/gender differences from this critical perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kassandra Friedrichs
- University College Freiburg, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Philipp Kellmeyer
- Human-Technology Interaction Lab, Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.,Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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12
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Tasos E. To What Extent are Prenatal Androgens Involved in the Development of Male Homosexuality in Humans? JOURNAL OF HOMOSEXUALITY 2022; 69:1928-1963. [PMID: 34080960 DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2021.1933792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine variations, including possibly reduced exposure to androgens, may contribute to the development of male homosexuality, with animal models demonstrating same-sex mate preference with altered exposure during prenatal or early postnatal development. As similar studies in humans are impossible, indirect physical and cognitive measures of androgen exposure are used. Some studies suggest that physical measures affected by prenatal androgens, including the index-to-ring finger ratio, growth indices, and facial structure, are more "feminine" in gay men. Gay men also exhibit significant childhood gender non-conformity and a "feminized" anatomical and functional brain pattern in sexual arousal, as well as domains such as language, visuospatial skills and hemispheric relationships. However, many of these results are equivocal and may be confounded by other factors. Research has also been hampered by inconsistencies in the reporting of sexual orientation and the potentially unrepresentative populations of gay men studied, while additional complexities pertaining to gender conformity and sexual role may also influence results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanouil Tasos
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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13
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Hilviu D, Gabbatore I, Parola A, Bosco FM. A cross-sectional study to assess pragmatic strengths and weaknesses in healthy ageing. BMC Geriatr 2022; 22:699. [PMID: 35999510 PMCID: PMC9400309 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03304-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ageing refers to the natural and physiological changes that individuals experience over the years. This process also involves modifications in terms of communicative-pragmatics, namely the ability to convey meanings in social contexts and to interact with other people using various expressive means, such as linguistic, extralinguistic and paralinguistic aspects of communication. Very few studies have provided a complete assessment of communicative-pragmatic performance in healthy ageing. Methods The aim of this study was to comprehensively assess communicative-pragmatic ability in three samples of 20 (N = 60) healthy adults, each belonging to a different age range (20–40, 65–75, 76–86 years old) and to compare their performance in order to observe any potential changes in their ability to communicate. We also explored the potential role of education and sex on the communicative-pragmatic abilities observed. The three age groups were evaluated with a between-study design by means of the Assessment Battery for Communication (ABaCo), a validated assessment tool characterised by five scales: linguistic, extralinguistic, paralinguistic, contextual and conversational. Results The results indicated that the pragmatic ability assessed by the ABaCo is poorer in older participants when compared to the younger ones (main effect of age group: F(2,56) = 9.097; p < .001). Specifically, significant differences were detected in tasks on the extralinguistic, paralinguistic and contextual scales. Whereas the data highlighted a significant role of education (F(1,56) = 4.713; p = .034), no sex-related differences were detected. Conclusions Our results suggest that the ageing process may also affect communicative-pragmatic ability and a comprehensive assessment of the components of such ability may help to better identify difficulties often experienced by older individuals in their daily life activities. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-03304-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dize Hilviu
- GIPSI Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Ilaria Gabbatore
- GIPSI Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. .,Research Unit of Logopedics, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Alberto Parola
- GIPSI Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Department of Linguistics, Cognitive Science and Semiotics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Francesca M Bosco
- GIPSI Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute of Turin - NIT, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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14
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Marini A. The beauty of diversity in cognitive neuroscience: The case of sex-related effects in language production networks. J Neurosci Res 2022; 101:633-642. [PMID: 35692091 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Over the past few decades, several studies have focused on potential sex-related differences in the trajectories of language development and functioning. From a behavioral point of view, the available literature shows controversial results: differences between males and females in language production tasks may not always be detectable and, even when they are, are potentially biased by sociological and educational confounding factors. The problem regarding potential sex-related differences in language production has also been investigated at the neural level, again with controversial results. The current minireview focuses on studies assessing sex-related differences in the neural networks of language production. After providing a theoretical framework of language production, it is shown that the few available investigations have provided mixed results. The major reasons for discrepant findings are discussed with theoretical and methodological implications for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Marini
- Department of Language and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.,Claudiana - Landesfachhochschule für Gesundheitsberufe, Bolzano, Italy
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15
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Friedrich P, Patil KR, Mochalski LN, Li X, Camilleri JA, Kröll JP, Wiersch L, Eickhoff SB, Weis S. Is it left or is it right? A classification approach for investigating hemispheric differences in low and high dimensionality. Brain Struct Funct 2022; 227:425-440. [PMID: 34882263 PMCID: PMC8844166 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02418-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Hemispheric asymmetries, i.e., differences between the two halves of the brain, have extensively been studied with respect to both structure and function. Commonly employed pairwise comparisons between left and right are suitable for finding differences between the hemispheres, but they come with several caveats when assessing multiple asymmetries. What is more, they are not designed for identifying the characterizing features of each hemisphere. Here, we present a novel data-driven framework-based on machine learning-based classification-for identifying the characterizing features that underlie hemispheric differences. Using voxel-based morphometry data from two different samples (n = 226, n = 216), we separated the hemispheres along the midline and used two different pipelines: First, for investigating global differences, we embedded the hemispheres into a two-dimensional space and applied a classifier to assess if the hemispheres are distinguishable in their low-dimensional representation. Second, to investigate which voxels show systematic hemispheric differences, we employed two classification approaches promoting feature selection in high dimensions. The two hemispheres were accurately classifiable in both their low-dimensional (accuracies: dataset 1 = 0.838; dataset 2 = 0.850) and high-dimensional (accuracies: dataset 1 = 0.966; dataset 2 = 0.959) representations. In low dimensions, classification of the right hemisphere showed higher precision (dataset 1 = 0.862; dataset 2 = 0.894) compared to the left hemisphere (dataset 1 = 0.818; dataset 2 = 0.816). A feature selection algorithm in the high-dimensional analysis identified voxels that most contribute to accurate classification. In addition, the map of contributing voxels showed a better overlap with moderate to highly lateralized voxels, whereas conventional t test with threshold-free cluster enhancement best resembled the LQ map at lower thresholds. Both the low- and high-dimensional classifiers were capable of identifying the hemispheres in subsamples of the datasets, such as males, females, right-handed, or non-right-handed participants. Our study indicates that hemisphere classification is capable of identifying the hemisphere in their low- and high-dimensional representation as well as delineating brain asymmetries. The concept of hemisphere classifiability thus allows a change in perspective, from asking what differs between the hemispheres towards focusing on the features needed to identify the left and right hemispheres. Taking this perspective on hemispheric differences may contribute to our understanding of what makes each hemisphere special.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Friedrich
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain and Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, 52428, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Kaustubh R Patil
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain and Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lisa N Mochalski
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain and Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Xuan Li
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain and Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Julia A Camilleri
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain and Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jean-Philippe Kröll
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain and Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lisa Wiersch
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain and Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Simon B Eickhoff
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain and Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Susanne Weis
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain and Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
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16
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Sex differences in the intrinsic reading neural networks of Chinese children. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2022; 54:101098. [PMID: 35325839 PMCID: PMC8943427 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2022.101098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in reading performance have been considered a relatively stable phenomenon. However, there is no general agreement about their neural basis, which might be due to that sex differences are largely influenced by age. This paper focuses on the sex differences in the reading-related neural network of Chinese children and its interaction with age. We also attempt to predict reading abilities based on neural network. Fifty-three boys and 56 girls (8.2–14.6 years of age) were recruited. We collected their resting-state fMRI and behavioural data. Restricted sex differences were found in the resting-state reading neural network compared to extensive age by sex interaction effect. Specifically, the interactions between sex and age indicated that with increasing age, girls showed greater connectivity strength between visual orthographic areas and other brain areas within the reading network, while boys showed an opposite trend. After controlling age, the prediction models of reading performance for the girls mainly included interhemispheric connections, while the intrahemispheric connections (particularly the phonological route) mainly contributed to predicting the reading ability for boys. Taken together, these findings suggest that sex differences in reading neural networks are modulated by age. Partialling out age, boys and girls also show the stable sex differences in relationship between reading neural circuit and reading behaviour. Sex differences in reading neural networks are modulated by age. Girls’ RSFCs within reading neural networks increase with age, contrary to boys. Intra- and interhemispheric RSFCs predict the reading ability of boys and girls, respectively.
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17
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Dhamala E, Jamison KW, Jaywant A, Kuceyeski A. Shared functional connections within and between cortical networks predict cognitive abilities in adult males and females. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:1087-1102. [PMID: 34811849 PMCID: PMC8764478 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
A thorough understanding of sex-independent and sex-specific neurobiological features that underlie cognitive abilities in healthy individuals is essential for the study of neurological illnesses in which males and females differentially experience and exhibit cognitive impairment. Here, we evaluate sex-independent and sex-specific relationships between functional connectivity and individual cognitive abilities in 392 healthy young adults (196 males) from the Human Connectome Project. First, we establish that sex-independent models comparably predict crystallised abilities in males and females, but only successfully predict fluid abilities in males. Second, we demonstrate sex-specific models comparably predict crystallised abilities within and between sexes, and generally fail to predict fluid abilities in either sex. Third, we reveal that largely overlapping connections between visual, dorsal attention, ventral attention, and temporal parietal networks are associated with better performance on crystallised and fluid cognitive tests in males and females, while connections within visual, somatomotor, and temporal parietal networks are associated with poorer performance. Together, our findings suggest that shared neurobiological features of the functional connectome underlie crystallised and fluid abilities across the sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvisha Dhamala
- Department of RadiologyWeill Cornell MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Present address:
Department of PsychologyYale UniversityNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Keith W. Jamison
- Department of RadiologyWeill Cornell MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Abhishek Jaywant
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Weill Cornell MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- NewYork‐Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Amy Kuceyeski
- Department of RadiologyWeill Cornell MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
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18
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Kljajevic V. Verbal Learning and Hemispheric Asymmetry. Front Psychol 2022; 12:809192. [PMID: 35058865 PMCID: PMC8765474 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.809192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Vanja Kljajevic
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
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19
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Limb Preference in Animals: New Insights into the Evolution of Manual Laterality in Hominids. Symmetry (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/sym14010096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Until the 1990s, the notion of brain lateralization—the division of labor between the two hemispheres—and its more visible behavioral manifestation, handedness, remained fiercely defined as a human specific trait. Since then, many studies have evidenced lateralized functions in a wide range of species, including both vertebrates and invertebrates. In this review, we highlight the great contribution of comparative research to the understanding of human handedness’ evolutionary and developmental pathways, by distinguishing animal forelimb asymmetries for functionally different actions—i.e., potentially depending on different hemispheric specializations. Firstly, lateralization for the manipulation of inanimate objects has been associated with genetic and ontogenetic factors, with specific brain regions’ activity, and with morphological limb specializations. These could have emerged under selective pressures notably related to the animal locomotion and social styles. Secondly, lateralization for actions directed to living targets (to self or conspecifics) seems to be in relationship with the brain lateralization for emotion processing. Thirdly, findings on primates’ hand preferences for communicative gestures accounts for a link between gestural laterality and a left-hemispheric specialization for intentional communication and language. Throughout this review, we highlight the value of functional neuroimaging and developmental approaches to shed light on the mechanisms underlying human handedness.
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20
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Burgund ED. Task-domain and hemisphere-asymmetry effects in cisgender and transmale individuals. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260542. [PMID: 34874973 PMCID: PMC8651105 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The present research examined the extent to which transmale individuals’ functional brain organization resembles that of their assigned sex or gender identity. Cisgender-female, cisgender-male, and transmale participants, who were assigned female sex but did not have a female gender identity, were compared in terms of effects that have been observed in cisgender individuals: task-domain effects, in which males perform better than females on spatial tasks and females perform better than males on verbal tasks; and hemisphere-asymmetry effects, in which males show larger differences between the left and right hemispheres than females. In addition, the present research measured participants’ intelligence in order to control for potential moderating effects. Participants performed spatial (mental rotation) and verbal (lexical decision) tasks presented to each hemisphere using a divided-visual field paradigm, and then completed an intelligence assessment. In the mental-rotation task, cismale and transmale participants performed better than cisfemale participants, however this group difference was explained by intelligence scores, with higher scores predicting better performance. In the lexical-decision task, cismale and transmale participants exhibited a greater left-hemisphere advantage than cisfemales, and this difference was not affected by intelligence scores. Taken together, results do not support task-domain effects when intelligence is accounted for; however, they do demonstrate a hemisphere-asymmetry effect in the verbal domain that is moderated by gender identity and not assigned sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Darcy Burgund
- Department of Psychology, Macalester College, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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21
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Hand Preference in Adults’ Referential Gestures during Storytelling: Testing for Effects of Bilingualism, Language Ability, Sex and Age. Symmetry (Basel) 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/sym13101776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that gestures are mediated by the left hemisphere. The primary purpose of this study was to test whether most gestures are also asymmetrical, i.e., produced with the right hand. We also tested four predictors of the degree of right-hand gesture use: bilingualism, language ability, sex, and age. These factors have been related to differences in the degree of language lateralization. English monolinguals, French–English bilinguals, and French monolinguals watched a cartoon and told the story back. For the gestures they produced while speaking, we calculated the percentage produced with the right hand. As predicted, the majority of gestures were right-handed (60%). Bilingualism, language ability, and age were not significantly related to hand choice in either English or French. In English, males tended to produce more right-handed gestures than females. These results raise doubts as to whether hand preference in gestures reflects speech lateralization. We discuss possible alternative explanations for a right-hand preference.
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22
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Manns M, Basbasse YE, Freund N, Ocklenburg S. Paw preferences in mice and rats: Meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 127:593-606. [PMID: 34004244 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Mice and rats are among the most common animal model species in both basic and clinical neuroscience. Despite their ubiquity as model species, many clinically relevant brain-behaviour relationships in rodents are not well understood. In particular, data on hemispheric asymmetries, an important organizational principle in the vertebrate brain, are conflicting as existing studies are often statistically underpowered due to small sample sizes. Paw preference is one of the most frequently investigated forms of hemispheric asymmetries on the behavioural level. Here, we used meta-analysis to statistically integrate findings on paw preferences in rats and mice. For both species, results indicate significant hemispheric asymmetries on the individual level. In mice, 81 % of animals showed a preference for either the left or the right paw, while 84 % of rats showed this preference. However, contrary to what has been reported in humans, population level asymmetries were not observed. These results are particularly significant as they point out that paying attention to potential individual hemispheric differences is important in both basic and clinical neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Manns
- Division of Experimental and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
| | - Yasmin El Basbasse
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
| | - Nadja Freund
- Division of Experimental and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ocklenburg
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
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23
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Dump the "dimorphism": Comprehensive synthesis of human brain studies reveals few male-female differences beyond size. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 125:667-697. [PMID: 33621637 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
With the explosion of neuroimaging, differences between male and female brains have been exhaustively analyzed. Here we synthesize three decades of human MRI and postmortem data, emphasizing meta-analyses and other large studies, which collectively reveal few reliable sex/gender differences and a history of unreplicated claims. Males' brains are larger than females' from birth, stabilizing around 11 % in adults. This size difference accounts for other reproducible findings: higher white/gray matter ratio, intra- versus interhemispheric connectivity, and regional cortical and subcortical volumes in males. But when structural and lateralization differences are present independent of size, sex/gender explains only about 1% of total variance. Connectome differences and multivariate sex/gender prediction are largely based on brain size, and perform poorly across diverse populations. Task-based fMRI has especially failed to find reproducible activation differences between men and women in verbal, spatial or emotion processing due to high rates of false discovery. Overall, male/female brain differences appear trivial and population-specific. The human brain is not "sexually dimorphic."
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24
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25
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Liang X, Zhao C, Jin X, Jiang Y, Yang L, Chen Y, Gong G. Sex-related human brain asymmetry in hemispheric functional gradients. Neuroimage 2021; 229:117761. [PMID: 33454413 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.117761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The left and right hemispheres of the human brain are two connected but relatively independent functional modules; they show multidimensional asymmetries ranging from particular local brain unit properties to entire hemispheric connectome topology. To date, however, it remains largely unknown whether and how hemispheric functional hierarchical structures differ between hemispheres. In the present study, we adopted a newly developed resting-state (rs) functional connectivity (FC)-based gradient approach to evaluate hemispheric functional hierarchical structures and their asymmetries in right-handed healthy young adults. Our results showed an overall mirrored principal functional gradient between hemispheres, with the sensory cortex and the default-mode network (DMN) anchored at the two opposite ends of the gradient. Interestingly, the left hemisphere showed a significantly larger full range of the principal gradient in both males and females, with males exhibiting greater leftward asymmetry. Similarly, the principal gradient component scores of two regions around the middle temporal gyrus and posterior orbitofrontal cortex exhibited similar hemisphere × sex interaction effects: a greater degree of leftward asymmetry in males than in females. Moreover, we observed significant main hemisphere and sex effects in distributed regions across the entire hemisphere. All these results are reproducible and robust between test-retest rs-fMRI sessions. Our findings provide evidence of functional gradients that enhance the present understanding of human brain asymmetries in functional organization and highlight the impact of sex on hemispheric functional gradients and their asymmetries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Chenxi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; School of Systems Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinhu Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yaya Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Liyuan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yijun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Gaolang Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.
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26
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Olulade OA, Seydell-Greenwald A, Chambers CE, Turkeltaub PE, Dromerick AW, Berl MM, Gaillard WD, Newport EL. The neural basis of language development: Changes in lateralization over age. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:23477-23483. [PMID: 32900940 PMCID: PMC7519388 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1905590117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We have long known that language is lateralized to the left hemisphere (LH) in most neurologically healthy adults. In contrast, findings on lateralization of function during development are more complex. As in adults, anatomical, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging studies in infants and children indicate LH lateralization for language. However, in very young children, lesions to either hemisphere are equally likely to result in language deficits, suggesting that language is distributed symmetrically early in life. We address this apparent contradiction by examining patterns of functional MRI (fMRI) language activation in children (ages 4 through 13) and adults (ages 18 through 29). In contrast to previous studies, we focus not on lateralization per se but rather on patterns of left-hemisphere (LH) and right-hemisphere (RH) activation across individual participants over age. Our analyses show significant activation not only in the LH language network but also in their RH homologs in all of the youngest children (ages 4 through 6). The proportion of participants showing significant RH activation decreases over age, with over 60% of adults lacking any significant RH activation. A whole-brain correlation analysis revealed an age-related decrease in language activation only in the RH homolog of Broca's area. This correlation was independent of task difficulty. We conclude that, while language is left-lateralized throughout life, the RH contribution to language processing is also strong early in life and decreases through childhood. Importantly, this early RH language activation may represent a developmental mechanism for recovery following early LH injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olumide A Olulade
- Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery, Georgetown University Medical Center and MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC 20057
| | - Anna Seydell-Greenwald
- Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery, Georgetown University Medical Center and MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC 20057
| | - Catherine E Chambers
- Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery, Georgetown University Medical Center and MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC 20057
| | - Peter E Turkeltaub
- Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery, Georgetown University Medical Center and MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC 20057
| | - Alexander W Dromerick
- Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery, Georgetown University Medical Center and MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC 20057
| | - Madison M Berl
- Center for Neuroscience and Behavioral Health, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010
| | - William D Gaillard
- Center for Neuroscience and Behavioral Health, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010
| | - Elissa L Newport
- Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery, Georgetown University Medical Center and MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC 20057;
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Unmasking the relevance of hemispheric asymmetries—Break on through (to the other side). Prog Neurobiol 2020; 192:101823. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Ocklenburg S, Berretz G, Packheiser J, Friedrich P. Laterality 2020: entering the next decade. Laterality 2020; 26:265-297. [DOI: 10.1080/1357650x.2020.1804396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Ocklenburg
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Biopsychology, Department of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Gesa Berretz
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Biopsychology, Department of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Julian Packheiser
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Biopsychology, Department of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Patrick Friedrich
- Brain Connectivity and Behaviour Laboratory, Sorbonne Universities, Paris, France
- Groupe d’Imagerie Neurofonctionnelle, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives-UMR 5293, CNRS, CEA University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
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29
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Sharma D, Gulati R, Misra I. Exploring Consistency in Right Hemispheric Hypothesis and Valence Hypothesis for Perception of Emotions in Brain. PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12646-020-00562-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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30
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Packheiser J, Schmitz J, Arning L, Beste C, Güntürkün O, Ocklenburg S. A large-scale estimate on the relationship between language and motor lateralization. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13027. [PMID: 32747661 PMCID: PMC7398911 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70057-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Human language is dominantly processed in the left cerebral hemisphere in most of the population. While several studies have suggested that there are higher rates of atypical right-hemispheric language lateralization in left-/mixed-handers, an accurate estimate of this association from a large sample is still missing. In this study, we comprised data from 1,554 individuals sampled in three previous studies in which language lateralization measured via dichotic listening, handedness and footedness were assessed. Overall, we found a right ear advantage indicating typical left-hemispheric language lateralization in 82.1% of the participants. While we found significantly more left-handed individuals with atypical language lateralization on the categorical level, we only detected a very weak positive correlation between dichotic listening lateralization quotients (LQs) and handedness LQs using continuous measures. Here, only 0.4% of the variance in language lateralization were explained by handedness. We complemented these analyses with Bayesian statistics and found no evidence in favor of the hypothesis that language lateralization and handedness are related. Footedness LQs were not correlated with dichotic listening LQs, but individuals with atypical language lateralization also exhibited higher rates of atypical footedness on the categorical level. We also found differences in the extent of language lateralization between males and females with males exhibiting higher dichotic listening LQs indicating more left-hemispheric language processing. Overall, these findings indicate that the direct associations between language lateralization and motor asymmetries are much weaker than previously assumed with Bayesian correlation analyses even suggesting that they do not exist at all. Furthermore, sex differences seem to be present in language lateralization when the power of the study is adequate suggesting that endocrinological processes might influence this phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Packheiser
- Department of Biopsychology, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Judith Schmitz
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Larissa Arning
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Christian Beste
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Onur Güntürkün
- Department of Biopsychology, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ocklenburg
- Department of Biopsychology, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Psychology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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31
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Scheuringer A, Harris TA, Pletzer B. Recruiting the right hemisphere: Sex differences in inter-hemispheric communication during semantic verbal fluency. BRAIN AND LANGUAGE 2020; 207:104814. [PMID: 32502896 PMCID: PMC7611590 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2020.104814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences in cognitive functions are heavily debated. Recent work suggests that sex differences do stem from different processing strategies utilized by men and women. While these processing strategies are likely reflected in different brain networks, so far the link between brain networks and processing strategies remains speculative. In the present study we seek for the first time to link sex differences in brain activation patterns to sex differences in processing strategies utilizing a semantic verbal fluency task in a large sample of 35 men and 35 women, all scanned thrice. For verbal fluency, strategies of clustering and switching have been described. Our results show that men show higher activation in the brain network supporting clustering, while women show higher activation in the brain network supporting switching. Furthermore, converging evidence from activation results, lateralization indices and connectivity analyses suggests that men recruit the right hemisphere more strongly during clustering, but women during switching. These results may explain findings of differential performance and strategy-use in previous behavioral studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Scheuringer
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria; Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Ti-Anni Harris
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria; Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Belinda Pletzer
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria; Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
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32
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Zaccagni L, Toselli S, Bramanti B, Gualdi-Russo E, Mongillo J, Rinaldo N. Handgrip Strength in Young Adults: Association with Anthropometric Variables and Laterality. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E4273. [PMID: 32549283 PMCID: PMC7345833 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17124273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The measurement of handgrip strength (HGS) is an indicator of an individual's overall strength and can serve as a predictor of morbidity and mortality. This study aims to investigate whether HGS is associated with handedness in young adults and if it is influenced by anthropometric characteristics, body composition, and sport-related parameters. We conducted a cross-sectional study on a sample of 544 young Italian adults aged 18-30 years. We measured HGS using a dynamometer and collected data on handedness and physical activity, along with anthropometric measurements. In both sexes, the HGS of the dominant side was significantly greater than that of the non-dominant side. Furthermore, in ambidextrous individuals, the right hand was stronger than the left. A comparison between the lowest and the highest tercile of HGS highlighted its significant association with anthropometric and body composition parameters in both sexes. Moreover, sex, dominant upper arm muscle area, arm fat index, fat mass, and fat-free mass were found to be significant predictors of HGS by multiple regression analysis. Our findings suggest that HGS is especially influenced by body composition parameters and handedness category. Therefore, HGS can be used as a proxy for unhealthy conditions with impairment of muscle mass, provided that the dominance in the laterality of the subject under examination is taken into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Zaccagni
- Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (L.Z.); (J.M.); (N.R.)
- Biomedical Sport Studies Center, University of Ferrara, 44123 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Stefania Toselli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Barbara Bramanti
- Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (L.Z.); (J.M.); (N.R.)
- University Center for Studies on Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Emanuela Gualdi-Russo
- Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (L.Z.); (J.M.); (N.R.)
| | - Jessica Mongillo
- Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (L.Z.); (J.M.); (N.R.)
| | - Natascia Rinaldo
- Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (L.Z.); (J.M.); (N.R.)
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33
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Antipsychotic effects of sex hormones and atypical hemispheric asymmetries. Cortex 2020; 127:313-332. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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34
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The neurobiology of sex differences during language processing in healthy adults: A systematic review and a meta-analysis. Neuropsychologia 2020; 140:107404. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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35
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Angelopoulou G, Meier EL, Kasselimis D, Pan Y, Tsolakopoulos D, Velonakis G, Karavasilis E, Kelekis NL, Goutsos D, Potagas C, Kiran S. Investigating Gray and White Matter Structural Substrates of Sex Differences in the Narrative Abilities of Healthy Adults. Front Neurosci 2020; 13:1424. [PMID: 32063823 PMCID: PMC7000661 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Linguistic aspects of narration have been investigated in healthy populations, in a wide variety of languages and speech genres with very different results. There is some evidence indicating that linguistic elements, such as speech rate (i.e., the measure indicating the amount of speech produced in a certain time period), mean length of utterance (MLU) (i.e., the index reflecting sentence grammatical structure), frequency of nouns and verbs, might be affected by non-linguistic factors such as sex. On the other hand, despite the existence of neuroimaging evidence of structural differences between males and females, it is yet unknown how such differences could explain between-sex disparities in linguistic abilities in natural speech contexts. To date, no study has evaluated discourse production elements in relation to sex differences and their neural correlates in terms of brain structure, a topic that could provide unique insights on the relationship between language and the brain. The aim of the present study was to determine sex differences in narrative skills in healthy adults and to investigate white and gray matter structural correlates of linguistic skills in each group. Twenty-seven male and 30 female (N = 57) right-handed, neurologically intact, monolingual Greek speakers, matched for age and years of education, participated. Narrations of a personal medical event were elicited. Linguistic elements of speech rate (words per minute), MLUs, frequency of nouns and verbs were calculated for each speech sample, by two independent raters. Structural 3D T1 images were segmented and parcellated using FreeSurfer and whole-brain between-sex differences in cortical thickness, cortical volume and surface area, were obtained. Between-group differences in white matter diffusion tensor scalars were examined via Tract-Based Spatial-Statistics and whole-brain tractography and automated tract delineation using Automated Fiber Quantification. Speech rate and noun frequency were significantly lower for men, while verb frequency was significantly higher for women, but no differences were identified for MLU. Regarding cortical measures, males demonstrated increased volume, surface area and cortical thickness in several bilateral regions, while no voxel-wise or tractography-based between-group differences in white matter metrics were observed. Regarding the relationship between sex and speech variables, hierarchical regression analyses showed that the superior/middle frontal cluster in surface area may serve as a significant predictor of speech rate variance, but only in females. We discuss several possible interpretations of how sex-related speech abilities could be represented differently in men and women in gray matter structures within the broad language network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Angelopoulou
- Neuropsychology and Language Disorders Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Erin L. Meier
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Dimitrios Kasselimis
- Neuropsychology and Language Disorders Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Division of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Yue Pan
- Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Dimitrios Tsolakopoulos
- Neuropsychology and Language Disorders Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George Velonakis
- 2nd Department of Radiology, General University Hospital “Attikon”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Efstratios Karavasilis
- 2nd Department of Radiology, General University Hospital “Attikon”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos L. Kelekis
- 2nd Department of Radiology, General University Hospital “Attikon”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dionysios Goutsos
- Department of Linguistics, School of Philosophy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Constantin Potagas
- Neuropsychology and Language Disorders Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Swathi Kiran
- Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
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36
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Musálek M, Scharoun Benson SM, Lejcarova A, Bryden PJ. Cross-lateralisation in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and motor skill performance. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2020; 55:973-982. [PMID: 31986554 PMCID: PMC7754478 DOI: 10.1002/ijop.12658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cross‐lateralisation and increased motor difficulties have been reported in children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Nevertheless, the question of how crossed (i.e. mixed preference) or uncrossed (i.e. same side preference) lateralisation impacts motor performance in children with ADHD has yet to be examined. In this study, previously validated observational measures of hand and foot preference were used to identify right‐handed children with ADHD who display cross‐ (n = 29) and uncross‐lateralisation (n = 31). An uncross‐lateralised typically developing (TD) group (n = 32) was also identified, and included as a control. Motor performance was assessed with seven valid and reliable fine and gross motor tasks performed with both preferred and non‐preferred limbs. Group, task and sex‐related effects were examined. Findings revealed that male (but not female) cross‐lateralised children with ADHD performed significantly worse, respectively, in two of the fine motor tasks (spiral tracing [p < .01], and dot filling [p < .05]). Results suggest that cross‐lateralised hand and foot preference may affect complex motor skills in male children with ADHD. Furthermore, characteristics of ADHD may manifest differently in male and female children. Findings highlight the importance of considering both hand and foot preference when targeting motor interventions for children with ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Musálek
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Alena Lejcarova
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pamela J Bryden
- Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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37
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Wallentin M. Gender differences in language are small but matter for disorders. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2020; 175:81-102. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-64123-6.00007-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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38
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Females are more proactive, males are more reactive: neural basis of the gender-related speed/accuracy trade-off in visuo-motor tasks. Brain Struct Funct 2019; 225:187-201. [DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-01998-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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39
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Xu M, Liang X, Ou J, Li H, Luo YJ, Tan LH. Sex Differences in Functional Brain Networks for Language. Cereb Cortex 2019; 30:1528-1537. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Men and women process language differently, but how the brain functions to support this difference is poorly understood. A few studies reported sex influences on brain activation for language, whereas others failed to detect the difference at the functional level. Recent advances of brain network analysis have shown great promise in picking up brain connectivity differences between sexes, leading us to hypothesize that the functional connections among distinct brain regions for language may differ in males and females. To test this hypothesis, we scanned 58 participants’ brain activities (28 males and 30 females) in a semantic decision task using functional magnetic resonance imaging. We found marked sex differences in dynamic interactions among language regions, as well as in functional segregation and integration of brain networks during language processing. The brain network differences were further supported by a machine learning analysis that accurately discriminated males from females using the multivariate patterns of functional connectivity. The sex-specific functional brain connectivity may constitute an essential neural basis for the long-held notion that men and women process language in different ways. Our finding also provides important implications for sex differences in the prevalence of language disorders, such as dyslexia and stuttering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Xu
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Center for Language and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Xiuling Liang
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Center for Language and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen 518060, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Jian Ou
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Center for Language and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen 518060, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Hong Li
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Center for Language and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen 518060, China
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Yue-jia Luo
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Center for Language and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Li Hai Tan
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Center for Language and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen 518060, China
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Abstract
In functional laterality research, most ungulate livestock species have until recently been mainly overlooked. However, there are many scientific and practical benefits of studying laterality in ungulate livestock. As social, precocial and domestic species, they may offer insight into the mechanisms involved in the ontogeny and phylogeny of functional laterality and help to better understand the role of laterality in animal welfare. Until now, most studies on ungulate livestock have focused on motor laterality, but interest in other lateralized functions, e.g., cognition and emotions, is growing. Increasingly more studies are also focused on associations with age, sex, personality, health, stress, production and performance. Although the full potential of research on laterality in ungulate livestock is not yet exploited, findings have already shed new light on central issues in cognitive and emotional processing and laid the basis for potentially useful applications in future practice, e.g., stress reduction during human-animal interactions and improved assessments of health, production and welfare. Future research would benefit from further integration of basic laterality methodology (e.g., testing for individual preferences) and applied ethological approaches (e.g., established emotionality tests), which would not only improve our understanding of functional laterality but also benefit the assessment of animal welfare.
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Consciousness in a multilevel architecture: What causes the lateralization of effective connectivity under resting state? Conscious Cogn 2019; 73:102755. [PMID: 31154020 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Here we present our answers to a critical commentary by Elkhonon Goldberg on our recent publication (Velichkovsky et al., 2018). To avoid discussions about novelty effects in the human brain activity and memory processes, we narrowed down this response to a reanalysis of our data along the lines proposed in the commentary, namely to comparing the effective links between symmetrical brain structures during the first and the last parts of a prolonged resting-state fMRI experiment. We also tested for sex differences in our results and checked for a stability of top-down interactions during the course of experiment because learning is often expressed in the weakening of upper level control over low-level mechanisms. Our attempts to test the predictions based on the novelty hypothesis has led to mixed results suggesting that the discovered right-to-left dominance of causal connections at rest may have a deeper origin than supposed in the Goldberg's commentary.
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Scandurra A, Alterisio A, Di Cosmo A, D'Aniello B. Behavioral and Perceptual Differences between Sexes in Dogs: An Overview. Animals (Basel) 2018; 8:E151. [PMID: 30142932 PMCID: PMC6162565 DOI: 10.3390/ani8090151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Revised: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we review the scientific reports of sex-related differences in dogs as compared to the outcomes described for wild animals. Our aim was to explore whether the differences in male and female dogs were affected by the domestication process, in which artificial selection is the main driver. For this purpose, we used information regarding personality traits, cognitive processes, and perception, for which there is a wide theoretical framework in behavioral ecology. Aggressiveness and boldness, described as a behavioral syndrome, were reported as being higher in males than females. Females also seemed more inclined to interspecific social interactions with humans in tasks that require cooperative skills, whereas males appeared more inclined to social play, thus implying different levels of social engagement between the sexes, depending on the context. Studies on cognitive processes underlined a greater flexibility in resorting to a particular navigation strategy in males. Most lateralization studies seem to support the view that males are preferentially left-handed and females are preferentially right-handed. Reports on visual focusing coherently rank females as superior in focusing on single social and physical stimuli. Only male dogs are able to discriminate kin; however, the timing of the olfactory recording in sexes is related to the stimulus relevance. Dogs are largely in line with life-history theories, which indicate that sex differences in dogs are mainly rooted in their biological and evolutionary heritage, remaining unchanged despite artificial selection. In contrast, the higher intraspecific sociability in wild male animals was not replicated in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Scandurra
- Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | | | - Anna Di Cosmo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Biagio D'Aniello
- Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", 80126 Naples, Italy.
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43
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Hirnstein M, Hugdahl K, Hausmann M. Cognitive sex differences and hemispheric asymmetry: A critical review of 40 years of research. Laterality 2018; 24:204-252. [DOI: 10.1080/1357650x.2018.1497044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Hirnstein
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Kenneth Hugdahl
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Radiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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44
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West EA, Knowles NK, Athwal GS, Ferreira LM. A 3D comparison of humeral head retroversion by sex and measurement technique. Shoulder Elbow 2018; 10:192-200. [PMID: 29796107 PMCID: PMC5960870 DOI: 10.1177/1758573217711897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accurate humeral head reconstruction during shoulder arthroplasty is partially dependent on correctly estimating and replicating native version. The present study evaluated the effects of sex and measurement technique on three-dimensional (3D) humeral version measurements made using the transepicondylar, forearm and flexion-extension axes. METHODS Fifty-two full-arm computed tomography scans were converted to 3D models and geometry extracted to define landmarks and coordinate systems. An anatomic humeral head osteotomy plane was used to measure version relative to the three measurement techniques and compare between sexes. RESULTS The measurement technique used had a significant affect (p < 0.001) on the resulting version measurement. The forearm axis technique consistently resulted in higher measured version compared to either the flexion-extension [mean (SD) males 9° (4°), females 13° (5°), p < 0.001] or the transepicondylar axes [mean (SD) males 8° (4°), females 11° (4°), p < 0.001]. Version in males was 7° greater than females when referencing either the flexion-extension [p = 0.029; mean (SD) males 37.7° (11°), females 30.4° (13°)] or transepicondylar axes [p = 0.045; mean (SD) males 39° (11°), females 32° (12°)]. CONCLUSIONS The choice of measurement technique can affect the humeral version angle. These results are important because measuring version using the epicondyles pre-operatively, and subsequently the forearm intra-operatively, will result in approximately 10° under-retroverted osteotomy. For example, 0° neutral version cut during reverse arthroplasty measured referencing the forearm results in 10° anteverted osteotomy when referencing the distal humerus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A. West
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada,Roth
- McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St Joseph's Hospital, London, ON, Canada
| | - Nikolas K. Knowles
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada,Roth
- McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St Joseph's Hospital, London, ON, Canada
| | - George S. Athwal
- Department of Surgery, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada,Roth
- McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St Joseph's Hospital, London, ON, Canada
| | - Louis M. Ferreira
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada,Roth
- McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St Joseph's Hospital, London, ON, Canada,Louis M. Ferreira, 1151 Richmond St, London ON, N6A 3K7, Canada.
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45
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Abstract
In this mini-review, I summarize and interpret the current status of sex/gender differences in terms of brain anatomy, brain function, behavior, and cognition. Based on this review and the reported findings, I conclude that most of these sex/gender differences are not large enough to support the assumption of sexual dimorphism in terms of brain anatomy, brain function, cognition, and behavior. Instead, I suggest that many brain and cognitive features are modulated by environment, culture, and practice (and several other influences). These influences interact with the menstrual cycle, the general hormone level, and current gender stereotypes in a way that has not yet been fully understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lutz Jäncke
- Division of Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- University Research Priority Program (URPP) “Dynamic of Healthy Aging”, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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46
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Geary DC. Evolutionary perspective on sex differences in the expression of neurological diseases. Prog Neurobiol 2018; 176:33-53. [PMID: 29890214 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Sex-specific brain and cognitive deficits emerge with malnutrition, some infectious and neurodegenerative diseases, and often with prenatal or postnatal toxin exposure. These deficits are described in disparate literatures and are generally not linked to one another. Sexual selection may provide a unifying framework that integrates our understanding of these deficits and provides direction for future studies of sex-specific vulnerabilities. Sexually selected traits are those that have evolved to facilitate competition for reproductive resources or that influence mate choices, and are often larger and more complex than other traits. Critically, malnutrition, disease, chronic social stress, and exposure to man-made toxins compromise the development and expression of sexually selected traits more strongly than that of other traits. The fundamental mechanism underlying vulnerability might be the efficiency of mitochondrial energy capture and control of oxidative stress that in turn links these traits to current advances in neuroenergetics, stress endocrinology, and toxicology. The key idea is that the elaboration of these cognitive abilities, with more underlying gray matter or more extensive inter-modular white matter connections, makes them particularly sensitive to disruptions in mitochondrial functioning and oxidative stress. A framework of human sexually selected cognitive abilities and underlying brain systems is proposed and used to organize what is currently known about sex-specific vulnerabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Geary
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, University of Missouri, MO, 65211-2500, Columbia, United States.
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47
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Sugiura L, Hata M, Matsuba-Kurita H, Uga M, Tsuzuki D, Dan I, Hagiwara H, Homae F. Explicit Performance in Girls and Implicit Processing in Boys: A Simultaneous fNIRS-ERP Study on Second Language Syntactic Learning in Young Adolescents. Front Hum Neurosci 2018; 12:62. [PMID: 29568265 PMCID: PMC5853835 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2018.00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Learning a second language (L2) proceeds with individual approaches to proficiency in the language. Individual differences including sex, as well as working memory (WM) function appear to have strong effects on behavioral performance and cortical responses in L2 processing. Thus, by considering sex and WM capacity, we examined neural responses during L2 sentence processing as a function of L2 proficiency in young adolescents. In behavioral tests, girls significantly outperformed boys in L2 tests assessing proficiency and grammatical knowledge, and in a reading span test (RST) assessing WM capacity. Girls, but not boys, showed significant correlations between L2 tests and RST scores. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and event-related potential (ERP) simultaneously, we measured cortical responses while participants listened to syntactically correct and incorrect sentences. ERP data revealed a grammaticality effect only in boys in the early time window (100–300 ms), implicated in phrase structure processing. In fNIRS data, while boys had significantly increased activation in the left prefrontal region implicated in syntactic processing, girls had increased activation in the posterior language-related region involved in phonology, semantics, and sentence processing with proficiency. Presumably, boys implicitly focused on rule-based syntactic processing, whereas girls made full use of linguistic knowledge and WM function. The present results provide important fundamental data for learning and teaching in L2 education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Sugiura
- Department of Language Sciences, Graduate School of Humanities, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan.,Research Center for Language, Brain and Genetics, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Hata
- Department of Language Sciences, Graduate School of Humanities, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroko Matsuba-Kurita
- Department of Language Sciences, Graduate School of Humanities, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Minako Uga
- Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Welfare and Psychology, Health Science University, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Daisuke Tsuzuki
- Department of Language Sciences, Graduate School of Humanities, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan.,Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ippeita Dan
- Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroko Hagiwara
- Department of Language Sciences, Graduate School of Humanities, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan.,Research Center for Language, Brain and Genetics, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumitaka Homae
- Department of Language Sciences, Graduate School of Humanities, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan.,Research Center for Language, Brain and Genetics, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
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48
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Küper K, Zimmer HD. The impact of perceptual changes to studied items on ERP correlates of familiarity and recollection is subject to hemispheric asymmetries. Brain Cogn 2018; 122:17-25. [PMID: 29396208 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2018.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Revised: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
It is still unclear which role the right hemisphere (RH) preference for perceptually specific and the left hemisphere (LH) bias towards abstract memory representations play at the level of episodic memory retrieval. When stimulus characteristics hampered the retrieval of abstract memory representations, these hemispheric asymmetries have previously only modulated event-related potential (ERP) correlates of recollection (late positive complex, LPC), but not of familiarity (FN400). In the present experiment, we used stimuli which facilitated the retrieval of abstract memory representations. With the divided visual field technique, new items, identical repetitions and color-modified versions of incidentally studied object pictures were presented in either the right (RVF) or the left visual field (LVF). Participants performed a memory inclusion task, in which they had to categorize both identically repeated and color-modified study items as 'old'. Only ERP, but not behavioral data showed hemispheric asymmetries: Compared to identical repetitions, FN400 and LPC old/new effects for color-modified items were equivalent with RVF/LH presentation, but reduced with LVF/RH presentation. By promoting the use of abstract stimulus information for memory retrieval, we were thus able to show that hemispheric asymmetries in accessing abstract or specific memory representations can modulate ERP correlates of familiarity as well as recollection processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Küper
- Aging Group, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany; Brain & Cognition Group, Department of Psychology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany.
| | - Hubert D Zimmer
- Brain & Cognition Group, Department of Psychology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
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49
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Melynyte S, Pipinis E, Genyte V, Voicikas A, Rihs T, Griskova-Bulanova I. 40 Hz Auditory Steady-State Response: The Impact of Handedness and Gender. Brain Topogr 2017; 31:419-429. [PMID: 29218677 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-017-0611-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The 40 Hz auditory steady-state response (ASSR) is a periodic response to a periodic stimulation. Its sources are located in the primary auditory cortex and the asymmetry of the planum temporale has previously been associated with hand preference and gender-related differences; thus subject's handedness and gender could potentially influence ASSRs. Nevertheless, electrophysiological studies of ASSRs are mainly dominated by right-handed participants and the observed findings can only be generalized to the right-handed populations. However, for a potential use of 40 Hz ASSR as a translational biomarker of neuropsychiatric disorders, it is important to investigate the response in association to handedness and gender. We included an equal number of left-handed and right-handed males and females and recorded EEG responses during left-ear, right-ear and both ears stimulation. The results of the study suggest that the processing of 40 Hz auditory stimulation depends on the subjects' gender and handedness: significantly lower phase-locking and strength of 40 Hz ASSRs were observed in left-handed females as compared to left-handed males, but right-handers did not differ in 40 Hz ASSRs. Our observation of the opposite impact of gender in the examined handedness groups stresses the importance of careful consideration of handedness and gender factors when evaluating the determinants of inter individual variability of 40 Hz ASSRs. This finding is of particular importance for clinical studies in psychiatry and neurology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigita Melynyte
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Centre, Vilnius University, Sauletekio ave 7, 10257, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Evaldas Pipinis
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Centre, Vilnius University, Sauletekio ave 7, 10257, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vaida Genyte
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Centre, Vilnius University, Sauletekio ave 7, 10257, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Aleksandras Voicikas
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Centre, Vilnius University, Sauletekio ave 7, 10257, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Tonia Rihs
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Inga Griskova-Bulanova
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Centre, Vilnius University, Sauletekio ave 7, 10257, Vilnius, Lithuania.
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50
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Martin JM, Altarriba J. Effects of Valence on Hemispheric Specialization for Emotion Word Processing. LANGUAGE AND SPEECH 2017; 60:597-613. [PMID: 29216810 DOI: 10.1177/0023830916686128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The use of emotion in language is a key element of human interactions and a rich area for cognitive research. The present study examined reactions to words of five types: positive emotion (e.g., happiness), negative emotion (e.g., hatred), positive emotion-laden (e.g., blessing), negative emotion-laden (e.g., prison), and neutral (e.g., chance). Words and nonwords were intermixed in a lexical decision task using hemifield presentation. Results revealed a general left hemisphere advantage. Overall, reaction times for positive words were faster than for negative or neutral words and this effect varied by hemifield of presentation. These results support a valence hypothesis of specialized processing in the left hemisphere of the brain for positive emotions and the right hemisphere for negative emotions.
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