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Handschuh PA, Reed MB, Murgaš M, Vraka C, Kaufmann U, Nics L, Klöbl M, Ozenil M, Konadu ME, Patronas EM, Spurny-Dworak B, Hahn A, Hacker M, Spies M, Baldinger-Melich P, Kranz GS, Lanzenberger R. Effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy on gray matter density, microstructure and monoamine oxidase A levels in transgender subjects. Neuroimage 2024; 297:120716. [PMID: 38955254 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
MAO-A catalyzes the oxidative degradation of monoamines and is thus implicated in sex-specific neuroplastic processes that influence gray matter (GM) density (GMD) and microstructure (GMM). Given the exact monitoring of plasma hormone levels and sex steroid intake, transgender individuals undergoing gender-affirming hormone therapy (GHT) represent a valuable cohort to potentially investigate sex steroid-induced changes of GM and concomitant MAO-A density. Here, we investigated the effects of GHT over a median time period of 4.5 months on GMD and GMM as well as MAO-A distribution volume. To this end, 20 cisgender women, 11 cisgender men, 20 transgender women and 10 transgender men underwent two MRI scans in a longitudinal design. PET scans using [11C]harmine were performed before each MRI session in a subset of 35 individuals. GM changes determined by diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) metrics for GMM and voxel based morphometry (VBM) for GMD were estimated using repeated measures ANOVA. Regions showing significant changes of both GMM and GMD were used for the subsequent analysis of MAO-A density. These involved the fusiform gyrus, rolandic operculum, inferior occipital cortex, middle and anterior cingulum, bilateral insula, cerebellum and the lingual gyrus (post-hoc tests: pFWE+Bonferroni < 0.025). In terms of MAO-A distribution volume, no significant effects were found. Additionally, the sexual desire inventory (SDI) was applied to assess GHT-induced changes in sexual desire, showing an increase of SDI scores among transgender men. Changes in the GMD of the bilateral insula showed a moderate correlation to SDI scores (rho = - 0.62, pBonferroni = 0.047). The present results are indicative of a reliable influence of gender-affirming hormone therapy on 1) GMD and GMM following an interregional pattern and 2) sexual desire specifically among transgender men.
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Affiliation(s)
- P A Handschuh
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - M B Reed
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - M Murgaš
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - C Vraka
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - U Kaufmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - L Nics
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - M Klöbl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - M Ozenil
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - M E Konadu
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - E M Patronas
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - B Spurny-Dworak
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - A Hahn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - M Hacker
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - M Spies
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - P Baldinger-Melich
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - G S Kranz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - R Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
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Mohamed Yusof NIS, Mohd Fauzi F. Nature's Toolbox for Alzheimer's Disease: A Review on the Potential of Natural Products as Alzheimer's Disease Drugs. Neurochem Int 2024; 176:105738. [PMID: 38616012 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2024.105738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Numerous clinical trials involving natural products have been conducted to observe cognitive performances and biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients. However, to date, no natural-based drugs have been approved by the FDA as treatments for AD. In this review, natural product-based compounds that were tested in clinical trials from 2011 to 2023, registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov were reviewed. Thirteen compounds, encompassing 7 different mechanisms of action were covered. Several observations were deduced, which are: i) several compounds showed cognitive improvement, but these improvements may not extend to AD, ii) compounds that are endogenous to the human body showed better outcomes, and iii) Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and cerebrolysin had the most potential as AD drugs among the 13 compounds. Based on the current findings, natural products may be more suitable as a supplement than AD drugs in most cases. However, the studies covered here were conducted in a relatively short amount of time, where compounds acting on AD pathways may take time to show any effect. Given the diverse pathways that these natural products are involved in, they may potentially produce synergistic effects that would be beneficial in treating AD. Additionally, natural products benefit from both physicochemical properties being in more favorable ranges and active transport playing a more significant role than it does for synthetic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fazlin Mohd Fauzi
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA Selangor, Puncak Alam Campus, 42 300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia; Center for Drug Discovery Research, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA Selangor, Puncak Alam Campus, 42 300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Boerma T, Ter Haar S, Ganga R, Wijnen F, Blom E, Wierenga CJ. What risk factors for Developmental Language Disorder can tell us about the neurobiological mechanisms of language development. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 154:105398. [PMID: 37741516 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Language is a complex multidimensional cognitive system that is connected to many neurocognitive capacities. The development of language is therefore strongly intertwined with the development of these capacities and their neurobiological substrates. Consequently, language problems, for example those of children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), are explained by a variety of etiological pathways and each of these pathways will be associated with specific risk factors. In this review, we attempt to link previously described factors that may interfere with language development to putative underlying neurobiological mechanisms of language development, hoping to uncover openings for future therapeutical approaches or interventions that can help children to optimally develop their language skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessel Boerma
- Institute for Language Sciences, Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Sita Ter Haar
- Institute for Language Sciences, Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Cognitive Neurobiology and Helmholtz Institute, Department of Psychology, Utrecht University/Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Rachida Ganga
- Institute for Language Sciences, Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Frank Wijnen
- Institute for Language Sciences, Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Elma Blom
- Department of Development and Education of youth in Diverse Societies (DEEDS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Language and Culture, The Arctic University of Norway UiT, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Corette J Wierenga
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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4
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Konadu ME, Reed MB, Kaufmann U, Handschuh PA, Spurny-Dworak B, Klöbl M, Schmidt C, Godber, Godbersen M, Briem E, Seiger R, Baldinger-Melich P, Kranz GS, Lanzenberger R, Spies M. Changes to hypothalamic volume and associated subunits during gender-affirming hormone therapy. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2023; 48:E369-E375. [PMID: 37751919 PMCID: PMC10521920 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.230017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Among its pleiotropic properties, gender-affirming hormone therapy (GHT) affects regional brain volumes. The hypothalamus, which regulates neuroendocrine function and associated emotional and cognitive processes, is an intuitive target for probing GHT effects. We sought to assess changes to hypothalamus and hypothalamic subunit volumes after GHT, thereby honouring the region's anatomical and functional heterogeneity. METHODS Individuals with gender dysphoria and cisgender controls underwent 2 MRI measurements, with a median interval of 145 days (interquartile range [IQR] 128.25-169.75 d, mean 164.94 d) between the first and second MRI. Transgender women (TW) and transgender men (TM) underwent the first MRI before GHT and the second MRI after approximately 4.5 months of GHT, which comprised estrogen and anti-androgen therapy in TW or testosterone therapy in TM. Hypothalamic volumes were segmented using FreeSurfer, and effects of GHT were tested using repeated-measures analysis of covariance. RESULTS The final sample included 106 participants: 38 TM, 15 TW, 32 cisgender women (CW) and 21 cisgender men (CM). Our analyses revealed group × time interaction effects for total, left and right hypothalamus volume, and for several subunits (left and right inferior tubular, left superior tubular, right anterior inferior, right anterior superior, all p corr < 0.01). In TW, volumes decreased between the first and second MRI in these regions (all p corr ≤ 0.01), and the change from the first to second MRI in TW differed significantly from that in CM and CW in several subunits (p corr < 0.05). LIMITATIONS We did not address the influence of transition-related psychological and behavioural changes. CONCLUSION Our results suggest a subunit-specific effect of GHT on hypothalamus volumes in TW. This finding is in accordance with previous reports of positive and negative effects of androgens and estrogens, respectively, on cerebral volumes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melisande E Konadu
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Kranz, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Kaufmann); the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong (Kranz)
| | - Murray B Reed
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Kranz, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Kaufmann); the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong (Kranz)
| | - Ulrike Kaufmann
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Kranz, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Kaufmann); the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong (Kranz)
| | - Patricia A Handschuh
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Kranz, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Kaufmann); the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong (Kranz)
| | - Benjamin Spurny-Dworak
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Kranz, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Kaufmann); the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong (Kranz)
| | - Manfred Klöbl
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Kranz, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Kaufmann); the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong (Kranz)
| | - Clemens Schmidt
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Kranz, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Kaufmann); the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong (Kranz)
| | - Godber
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Kranz, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Kaufmann); the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong (Kranz)
| | - M Godbersen
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Kranz, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Kaufmann); the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong (Kranz)
| | - Elisa Briem
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Kranz, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Kaufmann); the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong (Kranz)
| | - René Seiger
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Kranz, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Kaufmann); the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong (Kranz)
| | - Pia Baldinger-Melich
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Kranz, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Kaufmann); the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong (Kranz)
| | - Georg S Kranz
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Kranz, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Kaufmann); the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong (Kranz)
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Kranz, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Kaufmann); the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong (Kranz)
| | - Marie Spies
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Kranz, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Konadu, Reed, Handschuh, Spurny-Dworak, Klöbl, Schmidt, Godbersen, Briem, Seiger, Baldinger-Melich, Lanzenberger, Spies); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Kaufmann); the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong (Kranz)
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Articulatory effects on perceptions of men's status and attractiveness. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2647. [PMID: 36788286 PMCID: PMC9929068 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29173-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Research on heterosexual mating has demonstrated that acoustic parameters (e.g., pitch) of men's voices influence their attractiveness to women and appearance of status and formidability to other men. However, little is known about how men's tendency to clearly articulate their speech influences these important social perceptions. In the current study, we used a repeated-measures design to investigate how men's articulatory clarity or conformity influenced women's (N = 45) evaluations of men's attractiveness for both short- and long-term relationships, and men's (N = 46) evaluations of physical formidability and prestige. Results largely supported our hypotheses: men who enunciated phonemes more distinctly were more attractive to women for long-term relationships than short-term relationships and were perceived by other men to have higher prestige than physical dominance. These findings suggest that aspects of articulatory behavior that influence perceptions of prestige and long-term mating attractiveness may indicate an early social history characterized by high socioeconomic status, likely owing to crystallization of articulatory patterns during the critical period of language development. These articulatory patterns may also be honest signals of condition or disposition owing to the nature of complex, multicomponent traits, which deserve further empirical attention.
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Saleki K, Banazadeh M, Saghazadeh A, Rezaei N. Aging, testosterone, and neuroplasticity: friend or foe? Rev Neurosci 2022; 34:247-273. [PMID: 36017670 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2022-0033] [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: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Neuroplasticity or neural plasticity implicates the adaptive potential of the brain in response to extrinsic and intrinsic stimuli. The concept has been utilized in different contexts such as injury and neurological disease. Neuroplasticity mechanisms have been classified into neuroregenerative and function-restoring processes. In the context of injury, neuroplasticity has been defined in three post-injury epochs. Testosterone plays a key yet double-edged role in the regulation of several neuroplasticity alterations. Research has shown that testosterone levels are affected by numerous factors such as age, stress, surgical procedures on gonads, and pharmacological treatments. There is an ongoing debate for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in aging men; however, TRT is more useful in young individuals with testosterone deficit and more specific subgroups with cognitive dysfunction. Therefore, it is important to pay early attention to testosterone profile and precisely uncover its harms and benefits. In the present review, we discuss the influence of environmental factors, aging, and gender on testosterone-associated alterations in neuroplasticity, as well as the two-sided actions of testosterone in the nervous system. Finally, we provide practical insights for further study of pharmacological treatments for hormonal disorders focusing on restoring neuroplasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiarash Saleki
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, 47176 47745 Babol, Iran.,USERN Office, Babol University of Medical Sciences, 47176 47745 Babol, Iran.,Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Expert Group (SRMEG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), 14197 33151 Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Banazadeh
- Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Expert Group (SRMEG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), 14197 33151 Tehran, Iran.,Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cosmetic Products Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, 76169 13555 Kerman, Iran
| | - Amene Saghazadeh
- Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Expert Group (SRMEG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), 14197 33151 Tehran, Iran.,Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 14197 33151 Tehran, Iran
| | - Nima Rezaei
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 14197 33151 Tehran, Iran.,Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 14176 13151 Tehran, Iran.,Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), 14197 33151 Tehran, Iran
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7
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Kranz GS, Spies M, Vraka C, Kaufmann U, Klebermass EM, Handschuh PA, Ozenil M, Murgaš M, Pichler V, Rischka L, Nics L, Konadu ME, Ibeschitz H, Traub-Weidinger T, Wadsak W, Hahn A, Hacker M, Lanzenberger R. High-dose testosterone treatment reduces monoamine oxidase A levels in the human brain: A preliminary report. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 133:105381. [PMID: 34416504 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The sex hormones testosterone and estradiol influence brain structure and function and are implicated in the pathogenesis, prevalence and disease course of major depression. Recent research employing gender-affirming hormone treatment (GHT) of gender dysphoric individuals and utilizing positron emission tomography (PET) indicates increased serotonin transporter binding upon high-dosages of testosterone treatment. Here, we investigated the effects of GHT on levels of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), another key target of antidepressant treatment. Participants underwent PET with the radioligand [11C]harmine to assess cerebral MAO-A distribution volumes (VT) before and four months after initiation of GHT. By the time this study was terminated for technical reasons, 18 transgender individuals undergoing GHT (11 transmen, TM and 7 transwomen, TW) and 17 cis-gender subjects had been assessed. Preliminary analysis of available data revealed statistically significant MAO-A VT reductions in TM under testosterone treatment in six of twelve a priori defined regions of interest (middle frontal cortex (-10%), anterior cingulate cortex (-9%), medial cingulate cortex (-10.5%), insula (-8%), amygdala (-9%) and hippocampus (-8.5%, all p<0.05)). MAO-A VT did not change in TW receiving estrogen treatment. Despite the limited sample size, pronounced MAO-A VT reduction could be observed, pointing towards a potential effect of testosterone. Considering MAO-A's central role in regulation of serotonergic neurotransmission, changes to MAO-A VT should be further investigated as a possible mechanism by which testosterone mediates risk for, symptomatology of, and treatment response in affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg S Kranz
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR , China; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Marie Spies
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Chrysoula Vraka
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Kaufmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva-Maria Klebermass
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Patricia A Handschuh
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Marius Ozenil
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Matej Murgaš
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Verena Pichler
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Lucas Rischka
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Nics
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Melisande E Konadu
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Harald Ibeschitz
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Tatjana Traub-Weidinger
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Wadsak
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Hahn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Marcus Hacker
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
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8
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Developmental variation in testosterone:cortisol ratio alters cortical- and amygdala-based cognitive processes. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2021; 13:310-321. [PMID: 34321135 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174421000362] [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: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) are the end products of neuroendocrine axes that interact with the process of shaping brain structure and function. Relative levels of T:C (TC ratio) may alter prefrontal-amygdala functional connectivity in adulthood. What remains unclear is whether TC-related effects are rooted to childhood and adolescence. We used a healthy cohort of 4-22-year-olds to test for associations between TC ratios, brain structure (amygdala volume, cortical thickness (CTh), and their coordinated growth), as well as cognitive and behavioral development. We found greater TC ratios to be associated with the growth of specific brain structures: 1) parietal CTh; 2) covariance of the amygdala with CTh in visual and somatosensory areas. These brain parameters were in turn associated with lower verbal/executive function and higher spatial working memory. In sum, individual TC profiles may confer a particular brain phenotype and set of cognitive strengths and vulnerabilities, prior to adulthood.
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9
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Baldinger-Melich P, Urquijo Castro MF, Seiger R, Ruef A, Dwyer DB, Kranz GS, Klöbl M, Kambeitz J, Kaufmann U, Windischberger C, Kasper S, Falkai P, Lanzenberger R, Koutsouleris N. Sex Matters: A Multivariate Pattern Analysis of Sex- and Gender-Related Neuroanatomical Differences in Cis- and Transgender Individuals Using Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Cereb Cortex 2021; 30:1345-1356. [PMID: 31368487 PMCID: PMC7132951 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Univariate analyses of structural neuroimaging data have produced heterogeneous results regarding anatomical sex- and gender-related differences. The current study aimed at delineating and cross-validating brain volumetric surrogates of sex and gender by comparing the structural magnetic resonance imaging data of cis- and transgender subjects using multivariate pattern analysis. Gray matter (GM) tissue maps of 29 transgender men, 23 transgender women, 35 cisgender women, and 34 cisgender men were created using voxel-based morphometry and analyzed using support vector classification. Generalizability of the models was estimated using repeated nested cross-validation. For external validation, significant models were applied to hormone-treated transgender subjects (n = 32) and individuals diagnosed with depression (n = 27). Sex was identified with a balanced accuracy (BAC) of 82.6% (false discovery rate [pFDR] < 0.001) in cisgender, but only with 67.5% (pFDR = 0.04) in transgender participants indicating differences in the neuroanatomical patterns associated with sex in transgender despite the major effect of sex on GM volume irrespective of the self-identification as a woman or man. Gender identity and gender incongruence could not be reliably identified (all pFDR > 0.05). The neuroanatomical signature of sex in cisgender did not interact with depressive features (BAC = 74.7%) but was affected by hormone therapy when applied in transgender women (P < 0.001).
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Baldinger-Melich
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Neuroimaging Labs (NIL) PET, MRI, EEG, TMS and Chemical Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria F Urquijo Castro
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.,Section for Neurodiagnostic Applications, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
| | - René Seiger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Neuroimaging Labs (NIL) PET, MRI, EEG, TMS and Chemical Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anne Ruef
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.,Section for Neurodiagnostic Applications, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Dominic B Dwyer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.,Section for Neurodiagnostic Applications, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Georg S Kranz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Neuroimaging Labs (NIL) PET, MRI, EEG, TMS and Chemical Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Manfred Klöbl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Joseph Kambeitz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.,Section for Neurodiagnostic Applications, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Ulrike Kaufmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Windischberger
- MR Centre of Excellence, Centre for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Siegfried Kasper
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Falkai
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Neuroimaging Labs (NIL) PET, MRI, EEG, TMS and Chemical Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nikolaos Koutsouleris
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.,Section for Neurodiagnostic Applications, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
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10
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Choe HN, Jarvis ED. The role of sex chromosomes and sex hormones in vocal learning systems. Horm Behav 2021; 132:104978. [PMID: 33895570 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.104978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Vocal learning is the ability to imitate and modify sounds through auditory experience, a rare trait found in only a few lineages of mammals and birds. It is a critical component of human spoken language, allowing us to verbally transmit speech repertoires and knowledge across generations. In many vocal learning species, the vocal learning trait is sexually dimorphic, where it is either limited to males or present in both sexes to different degrees. In humans, recent findings have revealed subtle sexual dimorphism in vocal learning/spoken language brain regions and some associated disorders. For songbirds, where the neural mechanisms of vocal learning have been well studied, vocal learning appears to have been present in both sexes at the origin of the lineage and was then independently lost in females of some subsequent lineages. This loss is associated with an interplay between sex chromosomes and sex steroid hormones. Even in species with little dimorphism, like humans, sex chromosomes and hormones still have some influence on learned vocalizations. Here we present a brief synthesis of these studies, in the context of sex determination broadly, and identify areas of needed investigation to further understand how sex chromosomes and sex steroid hormones help establish sexually dimorphic neural structures for vocal learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha Na Choe
- Duke University Medical Center, The Rockefeller University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, United States of America.
| | - Erich D Jarvis
- Duke University Medical Center, The Rockefeller University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, United States of America.
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11
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Bhargava A, Arnold AP, Bangasser DA, Denton KM, Gupta A, Hilliard Krause LM, Mayer EA, McCarthy M, Miller WL, Raznahan A, Verma R. Considering Sex as a Biological Variable in Basic and Clinical Studies: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement. Endocr Rev 2021; 42:219-258. [PMID: 33704446 PMCID: PMC8348944 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnaa034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In May 2014, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) stated its intent to "require applicants to consider sex as a biological variable (SABV) in the design and analysis of NIH-funded research involving animals and cells." Since then, proposed research plans that include animals routinely state that both sexes/genders will be used; however, in many instances, researchers and reviewers are at a loss about the issue of sex differences. Moreover, the terms sex and gender are used interchangeably by many researchers, further complicating the issue. In addition, the sex or gender of the researcher might influence study outcomes, especially those concerning behavioral studies, in both animals and humans. The act of observation may change the outcome (the "observer effect") and any experimental manipulation, no matter how well-controlled, is subject to it. This is nowhere more applicable than in physiology and behavior. The sex of established cultured cell lines is another issue, in addition to aneuploidy; chromosomal numbers can change as cells are passaged. Additionally, culture medium contains steroids, growth hormone, and insulin that might influence expression of various genes. These issues often are not taken into account, determined, or even considered. Issues pertaining to the "sex" of cultured cells are beyond the scope of this Statement. However, we will discuss the factors that influence sex and gender in both basic research (that using animal models) and clinical research (that involving human subjects), as well as in some areas of science where sex differences are routinely studied. Sex differences in baseline physiology and associated mechanisms form the foundation for understanding sex differences in diseases pathology, treatments, and outcomes. The purpose of this Statement is to highlight lessons learned, caveats, and what to consider when evaluating data pertaining to sex differences, using 3 areas of research as examples; it is not intended to serve as a guideline for research design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Bhargava
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Arthur P Arnold
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Debra A Bangasser
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kate M Denton
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Arpana Gupta
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Division of Digestive Diseases, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lucinda M Hilliard Krause
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Emeran A Mayer
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Division of Digestive Diseases, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Margaret McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Walter L Miller
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Armin Raznahan
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institutes of Mental Health, Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ragini Verma
- Diffusion and Connectomics In Precision Healthcare Research (DiCIPHR) lab, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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12
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Shekari E, Goudarzi S, Shahriari E, Joghataei MT. Extreme capsule is a bottleneck for ventral pathway. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2021; 10:42-50. [PMID: 33861816 PMCID: PMC8019950 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2020.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
As neuroscience literature suggests, extreme capsule is considered a whiter matter tract. Nevertheless, it is not clear whether extreme capsule itself is an association fiber pathway or only a bottleneck for other association fibers to pass. Via our review, investigating anatomical position, connectivity and cognitive role of the bundles in extreme capsule, and by analyzing data from the dissection, it can be argued that extreme capsule is probably a bottleneck for the passage of uncinated fasciculus (UF) and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), and these fasciculi are responsible for the respective roles in language processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Shekari
- Department of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sepideh Goudarzi
- Department of pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elahe Shahriari
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taghi Joghataei
- Department of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
- Corresponding author.
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13
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Neural and Hormonal Correlates of Sexual Arousal in Transgender Persons. J Sex Med 2020; 17:2495-2507. [PMID: 33223427 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Whereas mounting work has begun to document the neural correlates underlying sexual arousal (SA) in humans, the associations between gender identity and the brain correlates of SA as well as their hormonal contributions remain unknown. AIM This study investigated neural activation to sexual arousal in transgender and cisgender persons. METHODS 20 transgender men and 19 transgender women (TW) already living in their identified gender were compared to 21 cisgender men (CM) and 19 cisgender women. Participants viewed erotic and neutral video clips while undergoing 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. OUTCOMES Group-specific brain activation, brain functional connectivity, and brain-hormone associations within the neurophenomenological model of sexual arousal (Stoleru et al, 2012). RESULTS Consistent with the model, participants activated most of its components. However, between-group differences were mostly showing larger activation for CM relative to any of the other 3 groups. Moreover, functional connectivity analyses (psychophysiological interactions) indicated unique patterns for CM, cisgender women, and TW in how different components of SA communicated with one another. Finally, androgens in transgender men and estrogens in TW correlated negatively with parietal cortex and primary (sensori-) motor regions, respectively, while CM showed positive correlations of androgens with parietal cortex, somatosensory regions, and the insula. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Data provide information on neurobiological changes in sexual arousal during treatment with gender-affirming hormone therapy. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS Although a limitation is the lack of pretreatment data, the present study provides comprehensive information including brain activation, functional connectivity, and hormonal associations in a large sample. CONCLUSIONS The results highlight a complex picture of the neural correlates of SA in gender identity and sex assigned at birth. Mueller SC, Wierckx K, T'Sjoen G. Neural and Hormonal Correlates of Sexual Arousal in Transgender Persons. J Sex Med 2020;17:2495-2507.
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14
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Tan GCY, Chu C, Lee YT, Tan CCK, Ashburner J, Wood NW, Frackowiak RS. The influence of microsatellite polymorphisms in sex steroid receptor genes ESR1, ESR2 and AR on sex differences in brain structure. Neuroimage 2020; 221:117087. [PMID: 32593802 PMCID: PMC8960998 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR), oestrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) and oestrogen receptor beta (ESR2) play essential roles in mediating the effect of sex hormones on sex differences in the brain. Using Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and gene sizing in two independent samples (discovery n = 173, replication = 61), we determine the common and unique influences on brain sex differences in grey (GM) and white matter (WM) volume between repeat lengths (n) of microsatellite polymorphisms AR(CAG)n, ESR1(TA)n and ESR2(CA)n. In the hypothalamus, temporal lobes, anterior cingulate cortex, posterior insula and prefrontal cortex, we find increased GM volume with increasing AR(CAG)n across sexes, decreasing ESR1(TA)n across sexes and decreasing ESR2(CA)n in females. Uniquely, AR(CAG)n was positively associated with dorsolateral prefrontal and orbitofrontal GM volume and the anterior corona radiata, left superior fronto-occipital fasciculus, thalamus and internal capsule WM volume. ESR1(TA)n was negatively associated with the left superior corona radiata, left cingulum and left inferior longitudinal fasciculus WM volume uniquely. ESR2(CA)n was negatively associated with right fusiform and posterior cingulate cortex uniquely. We thus describe the neuroanatomical correlates of three microsatellite polymorphisms of steroid hormone receptors and their relationship to sex differences. Microsatellite polymorphisms in sex hormone receptor genes influence volume in regions of brain sex difference AR(CAG)n repeat length is positively associated with grey and white matter volume across males and females ESR1(TA)n repeat length is negatively associated with grey and white matter volume across males and females ESR2(CA)n repeat length is negatively associated with grey matter volume in females but not in males Repeat length was associated with volume in the hypothalamus, insula, temporal cortices, prefrontal cortices, inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculi in the three genes. These regions were largely replicated in an independent cohort acquired on a separate scanner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Chern-Yee Tan
- Institute of Mental Health, National Healthcare Group, Singapore; Clinical Imaging Research Centre, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A(∗)STAR), Singapore.
| | - Carlton Chu
- DeepMind Technologies Limited, United Kingdom, UK
| | - Yu Teng Lee
- University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - John Ashburner
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London (UCL), United Kingdom, UK
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15
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Kennedy J, Perchik JD, Porter KK. Systematic Review of Transgender-Related Research in Radiology Over a Decade: There Is Work to Be Done. J Am Coll Radiol 2020; 18:93-102. [PMID: 33007310 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2020.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The ACR has established that diversity and inclusion are central to its mission of excellence in the radiologic professions; therefore, radiologists have a responsibility to serve the imaging needs of the transgender community. To understand radiologists' current knowledge of transgender topics, the authors performed a systematic review of publications from radiology journals. METHODS A lexicon of 14 transgender-related terms was created and expanded through a PubMed keyword search. From the 129 journals from the radiology, nuclear medicine, and medical imaging category of Journal Citation Reports, 106 journals met the inclusion criteria, including English translation and Scopus data for the study period. Using the Scopus advanced search feature, articles with titles, abstracts, Medical Subject Headings terms, or key words including 1 of 14 transgender terms were identified and analyzed. RESULTS Of the more than 200,000 articles published by the 106 journals from January 2008 to July 2019, 29 relevant articles were identified. Only 14 of the 106 journals published any transgender-related topics. The volume of articles has increased over time. The largest proportion of articles was published under the "general radiology" subsection, with the majority of these being editorials (6 of 10). Most of the original research was published under "neuroradiology" (7 of 13). Use of nonpreferred language, such as "transsexual" and "natal sex" was present through 2019. CONCLUSIONS Publication on transgender-related topics was uncommon among radiology journals. It is important to encourage further research and publication on transgender topics, as well as use of respectful, accepted language in radiology journals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper Kennedy
- University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Jordan D Perchik
- Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Kristin K Porter
- Chief of MRI, Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; President-Elect, American Association for Women in Radiology, Reston, Virginia.
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16
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Kranz GS, Zhang BBB, Handschuh P, Ritter V, Lanzenberger R. Gender-affirming hormone treatment - A unique approach to study the effects of sex hormones on brain structure and function. Cortex 2020; 129:68-79. [PMID: 32438011 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Investigating the effects of the gender-affirming hormone treatment of transgender people using neuroimaging provides a unique opportunity to study the impact of high dosages of sex hormones on human brain structure and function. This line of research is of relevance from a basic neuroscientific as well as from a psychiatric viewpoint. Prevalence rates, etiopathology, and disease course of many psychiatric disorders exhibit sex differences which are linked to differences in sex hormone levels. Here, we review recent neuroimaging studies from others and our group that investigate the effects of gender-affirming hormone treatment in a longitudinal design utilizing structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. Studies point to a general anabolic and anticatabolic effect of testosterone on grey and white matter structure, whereas estradiol and antiandrogen treatment seems to have partly opposite effects. Moreover, preliminary research indicates that gender-affirming hormone treatment influences serotonergic neurotransmission, a finding that is especially interesting for psychiatry. A clear picture of a hormonal influence on brain activity has yet to emerge. In conclusion, the available evidence reviewed here clearly indicates that sex hormone applications influence brain structure and function in the adult human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg S Kranz
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| | - Bella B B Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Patricia Handschuh
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vera Ritter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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17
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Prieur J, Barbu S, Blois‐Heulin C, Lemasson A. The origins of gestures and language: history, current advances and proposed theories. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2019; 95:531-554. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacques Prieur
- Department of Education and PsychologyComparative Developmental Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
- Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Ethologie animale et humaine) – UMR 6552 F‐35380 Paimpont France
| | - Stéphanie Barbu
- Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Ethologie animale et humaine) – UMR 6552 F‐35380 Paimpont France
| | - Catherine Blois‐Heulin
- Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Ethologie animale et humaine) – UMR 6552 F‐35380 Paimpont France
| | - Alban Lemasson
- Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Ethologie animale et humaine) – UMR 6552 F‐35380 Paimpont France
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18
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Kranz GS, Kaufmann U, Lanzenberger R. Probing the Impact of Gender-Affirming Hormone Treatment on Odor Perception. Chem Senses 2019; 45:37-44. [PMID: 31638640 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjz069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Evidence suggests that women outperform men in core aspects of odor perception, and sex hormones may play a significant role in moderating this effect. The gender-affirming treatment (GAT) of transgender persons constitutes a powerful natural experiment to study the psychological and behavioral effects of high dosages of cross-sex hormone applications. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the effects of GAT on odor perception in a sample of 131 participants including female and male controls, as well as transmen and transwomen over their first 4 months of gender transition. The Sniffin’ Sticks test battery was used to measure odor detection, discrimination, and identification at baseline, as well as 1 and 4 months after the start of GAT. Plasma levels of estradiol, testosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin were analyzed for each assessment point. Results revealed no significant change of olfactory performance in the two transgender groups compared with female and male controls. There was no significant difference between groups at baseline or any other time point. Neither biological sex, nor gender identity had an influence on odor perception. Moreover, there was no significant correlation between sex hormones and odor perception and between GAT-induced changes in sex hormones and changes in odor perception. Our results indicate that the effects of sex hormones on olfactory performance are subtle, if present at all. However, our results do not preclude hormonal effects on odors not included in the Sniffin’ Sticks test battery, such as body odors or odors associated with sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg S Kranz
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Kaufmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
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19
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Adani S, Cepanec M. Sex differences in early communication development: behavioral and neurobiological indicators of more vulnerable communication system development in boys. Croat Med J 2019. [PMID: 31044585 PMCID: PMC6509633 DOI: 10.3325/cmj.2019.60.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Perhaps due to different roles they have had in social groups during evolution, men and women differ in their verbal abilities. These differences are also (if not even more) present in children, both in the course of typical and pathological development. Beside the fact that girls have a well-documented advantage in early language development, almost all developmental disorders primarily affecting communication, speech, and language skills are more frequent in boys. The sex-related difference in the prevalence of these disorders is especially pronounced in autism spectrum disorder (1 girl for each 4-5 boys is affected). The aim of this review is to present the sex differences in typical communication and language development and in the prevalence of communication-related neurodevelopmental disorders. Also, a special focus is put on data from the field of neuroscience that might provide insight into the neurobiological mechanisms that can add to the understanding of this phenomenon. We argue that the functional organization of the female brain gives women an inherent advantage in the acquisition of communication and language system over men.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maja Cepanec
- Maja Cepanec, Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, Borongajska cesta 83f, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia,
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20
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Mahfouda S, Moore JK, Siafarikas A, Hewitt T, Ganti U, Lin A, Zepf FD. Gender-affirming hormones and surgery in transgender children and adolescents. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2019; 7:484-498. [PMID: 30528161 DOI: 10.1016/s2213-8587(18)30305-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guidelines on the treatment of gender incongruent people recommend the use of gender-affirming cross-sex hormone (CSH) interventions in transgender children and adolescents who request this treatment, who have undergone psychiatric assessment, and have maintained a persistent transgender identity. The intervention can help to affirm gender identity by inducing masculine or feminine physical characteristics that are congruent with an individual's gender expression, while aiming to improve mental health and quality-of-life outcomes. Some transgender individuals might also wish to access gender-affirming surgeries during adolescence; however, research to inform best clinical practice for surgeons and other medical professionals is scarce. This Review explores the available published evidence on gender-affirming CSH and surgical interventions in transgender children and adolescents, amalgamating findings on mental health outcomes, cognitive and physical effects, side-effects, and safety variables. The small amount of available data suggest that when clearly indicated in accordance with international guidelines, gender-affirming CSHs and chest wall masculinisation in transgender males are associated with improvements in mental health and quality of life. Evidence regarding surgical vaginoplasty in transgender females younger than age 18 years remains extremely scarce and conclusions cannot yet be drawn regarding its risks and benefits in this age group. Further research on an international scale is urgently warranted to clarify long-term outcomes on psychological functioning and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Mahfouda
- Centre and Discipline of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Division of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences and Division of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Julia K Moore
- Centre and Discipline of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Division of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences and Division of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; Gender Diversity Service, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Child and Adolescent Health Service, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Aris Siafarikas
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; Division of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Timothy Hewitt
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Uma Ganti
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Ashleigh Lin
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Florian Daniel Zepf
- Centre and Discipline of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Division of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences and Division of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany.
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21
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Adani S, Cepanec M. Sex differences in early communication development: behavioral and neurobiological indicators of more vulnerable communication system development in boys. Croat Med J 2019; 60:141-149. [PMID: 31044585 PMCID: PMC6509633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Perhaps due to different roles they have had in social groups during evolution, men and women differ in their verbal abilities. These differences are also (if not even more) present in children, both in the course of typical and pathological development. Beside the fact that girls have a well-documented advantage in early language development, almost all developmental disorders primarily affecting communication, speech, and language skills are more frequent in boys. The sex-related difference in the prevalence of these disorders is especially pronounced in autism spectrum disorder (1 girl for each 4-5 boys is affected). The aim of this review is to present the sex differences in typical communication and language development and in the prevalence of communication-related neurodevelopmental disorders. Also, a special focus is put on data from the field of neuroscience that might provide insight into the neurobiological mechanisms that can add to the understanding of this phenomenon. We argue that the functional organization of the female brain gives women an inherent advantage in the acquisition of communication and language system over men.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maja Cepanec
- Maja Cepanec, Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, Borongajska cesta 83f, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia,
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22
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Buades-Rotger M, Engelke C, Krämer UM. Trait and state patterns of basolateral amygdala connectivity at rest are related to endogenous testosterone and aggression in healthy young women. Brain Imaging Behav 2019; 13:564-576. [PMID: 29744800 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-018-9884-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The steroid hormone testosterone (T) has been suggested to influence reactive aggression upon its action on the basolateral amygdala (BLA), a key brain region for threat detection. However, it is unclear whether T modulates resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the BLA, and whether this predicts subsequent aggressive behavior. Aggressive interactions themselves, which often induce changes in T concentrations, could further alter BLA rsFC, but this too remains untested. Here we investigated the effect of endogenous T on rsFC of the BLA at baseline as well as after an aggressive encounter, and whether this was related to behavioral aggression in healthy young women (n = 39). Pre-scan T was negatively correlated with basal rsFC between BLA and left superior temporal gyrus (STG; p < .001, p < .05 Family-Wise Error [FWE] cluster-level corrected), which in turn was associated with increased aggression (r = .37, p = .020). BLA-STG coupling at rest might thus underlie hostile readiness in low-T women. In addition, connectivity between the BLA and the right superior parietal lobule (SPL), a brain region involved in higher-order perceptual processes, was reduced in aggressive participants (p < .001, p < .05 FWE cluster-level corrected). On the other hand, post-task increases in rsFC between BLA and medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) were linked to reduced aggression (r = -.36, p = .023), consistent with the established notion that the mOFC regulates amygdala activity in order to curb aggressive impulses. Finally, competition-induced changes in T were associated with increased coupling between the BLA and the right lateral OFC (p < .001, p < .05 FWE cluster-level corrected), but this effect was unrelated to aggression. We thus identified connectivity patterns that prospectively predict aggression in women, and showed how aggressive interactions in turn impact these neural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macià Buades-Rotger
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany.
- Institute of Psychology II, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
| | - Christin Engelke
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Ulrike M Krämer
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- Institute of Psychology II, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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23
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Burke SM, Manzouri AH, Dhejne C, Bergström K, Arver S, Feusner JD, Savic-Berglund I. Testosterone Effects on the Brain in Transgender Men. Cereb Cortex 2018; 28:1582-1596. [PMID: 28334217 PMCID: PMC6248653 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Revised: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Transgender individuals experience incongruence between their gender identity and birth-assigned sex. The resulting gender dysphoria (GD), which some gender-incongruent individuals experience, is theorized to be a consequence of atypical cerebral sexual differentiation, but support for this assertion is inconsistent. We recently found that GD is associated with disconnected networks involved in self-referential thinking and own body perception. Here, we investigate how these networks in trans men (assigned female at birth with male gender identity) are affected by testosterone. In 22 trans men, we obtained T1-weighted, diffusion-weighted, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans before and after testosterone treatment, measuring cortical thickness (Cth), subcortical volumes, fractional anisotropy (FA), and functional connectivity. Nineteen cisgender controls (male and female) were also scanned twice. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was thicker in trans men than controls pretreatment, and remained unchanged posttreatment. Testosterone treatment resulted in increased Cth in the insular cortex, changes in cortico-cortical thickness covariation between mPFC and occipital cortex, increased FA in the fronto-occipital tract connecting these regions, and increased functional connectivity between mPFC and temporo-parietal junction, compared with controls. Concluding, in trans men testosterone treatment resulted in functional and structural changes in self-referential and own body perception areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Burke
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and
University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Cecilia Dhejne
- ANOVA, Center of Expertise in Andrology, Sexual Medicine, and Transgender
Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Psychiatric Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience,
Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karin Bergström
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and
University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefan Arver
- ANOVA, Center of Expertise in Andrology, Sexual Medicine, and Transgender
Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine/Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 86
Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jamie D Feusner
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of
California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Ivanka Savic-Berglund
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and
University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
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24
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Kranz GS, Hahn A, Kaufmann U, Tik M, Ganger S, Seiger R, Hummer A, Windischberger C, Kasper S, Lanzenberger R. Effects of testosterone treatment on hypothalamic neuroplasticity in female-to-male transgender individuals. Brain Struct Funct 2018; 223:321-328. [PMID: 28819863 PMCID: PMC5772168 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-017-1494-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [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: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is used to measure gray matter tissue density and white matter fiber organization/directionality. Recent studies show that DWI also allows for assessing neuroplastic adaptations in the human hypothalamus. To this end, we investigated a potential influence of testosterone replacement therapy on hypothalamic microstructure in female-to-male (FtM) transgender individuals. 25 FtMs were measured at baseline, 4 weeks, and 4 months past treatment start and compared to 25 female and male controls. Our results show androgenization-related reductions in mean diffusivity in the lateral hypothalamus. Significant reductions were observed unilaterally after 1 month and bilaterally after 4 months of testosterone treatment. Moreover, treatment induced increases in free androgen index and bioavailable testosterone were significantly associated with the magnitude of reductions in mean diffusivity. These findings imply microstructural plasticity and potentially related changes in neural activity by testosterone in the adult human hypothalamus and suggest that testosterone replacement therapy in FtMs changes hypothalamic microstructure towards male proportions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg S Kranz
- Neuroimaging Labs (NIL) PET, MRI, EEG and Chemical Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Hahn
- Neuroimaging Labs (NIL) PET, MRI, EEG and Chemical Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Kaufmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Tik
- MR Centre of Excellence, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sebastian Ganger
- Neuroimaging Labs (NIL) PET, MRI, EEG and Chemical Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - René Seiger
- Neuroimaging Labs (NIL) PET, MRI, EEG and Chemical Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Allan Hummer
- MR Centre of Excellence, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Windischberger
- MR Centre of Excellence, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Siegfried Kasper
- Neuroimaging Labs (NIL) PET, MRI, EEG and Chemical Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Neuroimaging Labs (NIL) PET, MRI, EEG and Chemical Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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25
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Gao Z, Yang Q, Ma X, Becker B, Li K, Zhou F, Kendrick KM. Men Who Compliment a Woman's Appearance Using Metaphorical Language: Associations with Creativity, Masculinity, Intelligence and Attractiveness. Front Psychol 2017; 8:2185. [PMID: 29312054 PMCID: PMC5742614 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Language may have evolved as a signal of mental fitness. However, it remains unclear what language form and topic men use to covertly signal mate quality. In this study 69 men created compliments to impress unfamiliar women they chose to either date or work with and provided hand scans to compute 2D4D ratio as a proxy for prenatal testosterone exposure and masculinity indicator. Compliments were coded in terms of form (literal vs. metaphorical) and topic (women's appearance vs. non-appearance), with metaphorical ones being subsequently rated by 114 women for psycholinguistic features, indices of intelligence and willingness to have a romantic relationship with the author. Results showed that in a dating context, men produced more metaphorical form compliments targeting appearance compared to the working context and they were associated with men's art creativity and negatively with 2D4D ratio (i.e., positively with masculinity). Women preferred establishing a romantic relationship with a higher proportion of the men producing metaphorical compliments in a dating than a working context. Furthermore, in the dating but not the working context, women perceived men producing such compliments as being more intelligent, and importantly this correlated with the men's actual verbal intelligence. Overall, findings suggest that men may use metaphorical language compliments targeting women's appearance in a dating context to signal covertly their mate quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Gao
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,School of Foreign Languages, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Qi Yang
- School of Foreign Languages, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaole Ma
- Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Benjamin Becker
- Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Keshuang Li
- Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Feng Zhou
- Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Keith M Kendrick
- Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
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26
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Burke SM, Manzouri AH, Savic I. Structural connections in the brain in relation to gender identity and sexual orientation. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17954. [PMID: 29263327 PMCID: PMC5738422 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17352-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Both transgenderism and homosexuality are facets of human biology, believed to derive from different sexual differentiation of the brain. The two phenomena are, however, fundamentally unalike, despite an increased prevalence of homosexuality among transgender populations. Transgenderism is associated with strong feelings of incongruence between one's physical sex and experienced gender, not reported in homosexual persons. The present study searches to find neural correlates for the respective conditions, using fractional anisotropy (FA) as a measure of white matter connections that has consistently shown sex differences. We compared FA in 40 transgender men (female birth-assigned sex) and 27 transgender women (male birth-assigned sex), with both homosexual (29 male, 30 female) and heterosexual (40 male, 40 female) cisgender controls. Previously reported sex differences in FA were reproduced in cis-heterosexual groups, but were not found among the cis-homosexual groups. After controlling for sexual orientation, the transgender groups showed sex-typical FA-values. The only exception was the right inferior fronto-occipital tract, connecting parietal and frontal brain areas that mediate own body perception. Our findings suggest that the neuroanatomical signature of transgenderism is related to brain areas processing the perception of self and body ownership, whereas homosexuality seems to be associated with less cerebral sexual differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Burke
- Brain & Development Research Centre, Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Amir H Manzouri
- Stressmotagningen, S:t Göransgatan 84, 112 38, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ivanka Savic
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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27
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Kurth F, Jancke L, Luders E. Sexual dimorphism of Broca's region: More gray matter in female brains in Brodmann areas 44 and 45. J Neurosci Res 2017; 95:626-632. [PMID: 27870461 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Revised: 07/17/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Although a sexual dimorphism in brain structure is generally well established, evidence for sex differences in Brodmann areas (BA) 44 and 45 is inconclusive. This may be due to the difficulty of accurately defining BA 44 and BA 45 in magnetic resonance images, given that these regions are variable in their location and extent and that they do not match well with macroanatomic landmarks. Here we set out to test for possible sex differences in the local gray matter of BA 44/45 by integrating imaging-based signal intensities with cytoarchitectonically defined tissue probabilities in a sample of 50 male and 50 female subjects. In addition to testing for sex differences with respect to left- and right-hemispheric measures of BA 44/45, we also assessed possible sex differences in BA 44/45 asymmetry. Our analyses revealed significantly larger gray matter volumes in females compared with males for BA 44 and BA 45 bilaterally. However, there was a lack of significant sex differences in BA 44/45 asymmetry. These results corroborate reports of a language-related female superiority, particularly with respect to verbal fluency and verbal memory tasks. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Kurth
- Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - Lutz Jancke
- Department of Neuropsychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,University Research Priority Program (URPP) "Dynamic of Healthy Aging," University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eileen Luders
- Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
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28
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Hahn A, Gryglewski G, Nics L, Rischka L, Ganger S, Sigurdardottir H, Vraka C, Silberbauer L, Vanicek T, Kautzky A, Wadsak W, Mitterhauser M, Hartenbach M, Hacker M, Kasper S, Lanzenberger R. Task-relevant brain networks identified with simultaneous PET/MR imaging of metabolism and connectivity. Brain Struct Funct 2017; 223:1369-1378. [PMID: 29134288 PMCID: PMC5869947 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-017-1558-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Except for task-specific functional MRI, the vast majority of imaging studies assessed human brain function at resting conditions. However, tracking task-specific neuronal activity yields important insight how the brain responds to stimulation. We specifically investigated changes in glucose metabolism, functional connectivity and white matter microstructure during task performance using several recent methodological advancements. Opening the eyes and right finger tapping had elicited an increased glucose metabolism in primary visual and motor cortices, respectively. Furthermore, a decreased metabolism was observed in the regions of the default mode network, which allowed absolute quantification of commonly described deactivations during cognitive tasks. These brain regions showed widespread task-specific changes in functional connectivity, which stretched beyond their primary resting-state networks and presumably reflected the level of recruitment of certain brain regions for each task. Finally, the corresponding white matter fiber pathways exhibited changes in axial and radial diffusivity during the tasks, which were regionally distinctive for certain tract groups. These results highlight that even simple task performance leads to substantial changes of entire brain networks. Exploiting the complementary nature of the different imaging modalities may reveal novel insights how the brain processes external stimuli and which networks are involved in certain tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Hahn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gregor Gryglewski
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Nics
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lucas Rischka
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sebastian Ganger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Helen Sigurdardottir
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Chrysoula Vraka
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Leo Silberbauer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Vanicek
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Kautzky
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Wadsak
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine (CBmed), Graz, Austria
| | - Markus Mitterhauser
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Ludwig Bolzmann Institute Applied Diagnostics, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Hartenbach
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marcus Hacker
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Siegfried Kasper
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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29
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Kranz GS, Seiger R, Kaufmann U, Hummer A, Hahn A, Ganger S, Tik M, Windischberger C, Kasper S, Lanzenberger R. Effects of sex hormone treatment on white matter microstructure in individuals with gender dysphoria. Neuroimage 2017; 150:60-67. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Revised: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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