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Hjelmervik H, Hausmann M, Bless JJ, Harkestad N, Hugdahl K, Laloyaux J. Estradiol driven change in hallucination proneness across the menstrual cycle as studied with a white noise paradigm. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 159:106410. [PMID: 37832212 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
The estrogen hypothesis for schizophrenia suggests neuroprotective effects of estrogen for the development of the disorder and for symptom severity, including auditory hallucinations. Furthermore, estrogen has shown enhancing effects on cognitive control, a function that is also implicated in auditory hallucinations. Whether estrogen affects the tendency to hallucinate in healthy participants, and the potential mediating role of cognitive control, has not yet been studied. Therefore, the current study aimed to test these relationships by using a white noise paradigm in combination with a N-back working memory task in which cognitive load could be manipulated. The paradigm used simulates a hallucinatory state by induction of negative emotions and drainage of cognitive resources. The simultaneous exposure to white noise elicit experiences of hearing voices (false alarms). In a between-subject design, forty-two participants were tested during the menstrual cycle in either the early follicular phase (low estradiol) or late follicular phase (high estradiol). A 2(Cycle Phase) x2(N-back task) ANOVA showed a main-effect of cycle phase on number of experienced hallucinations in the white noise task, with a significantly higher number of reported hallucinations in the early follicular phase. Furthermore, estradiol was found to predict number of hallucinations. No interaction effect of cycle phase and available cognitive resources was found. The results suggest an estradiol-related change in hallucination proneness across the menstrual cycle, but the idea that cognitive functioning mediates this relationship was not supported. Overall, the study supports protective effects of estradiol on hallucination proneness in line with the estrogen-hypothesis of schizophrenia, and that such effects are not specific to the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene Hjelmervik
- School of Health Sciences, Kristiania University college, Bergen, Norway.
| | | | - Josef J Bless
- Institute of Medical Psychology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nina Harkestad
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Norway
| | - Kenneth Hugdahl
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Norway; Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Radiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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Gloe LM, Russman Block S, Klump KL, Beltz AM, Moser JS. Determining menstrual cycle phase: An empirical examination of methodologies and recommendations for improvement in behavioral and brain sciences. Horm Behav 2023; 155:105421. [PMID: 37666081 PMCID: PMC10714354 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
The recent decade has brought an exciting proliferation of behavioral, psychological and neuroscientific research involving the menstrual cycle. However, the reliability and validity of many popular methodologies for determining menstrual cycle phase lack empirical examination. These under-investigated methods include: (1) predicting menstrual cycle phase using self-report information only (e.g., "count" methods), (2) utilizing ovarian hormone ranges to determine menstrual cycle phase, and (3) using ovarian hormone changes from limited measurements (e.g., two time points) to determine menstrual cycle phase. In the current study, we examine the accuracy of these methods for menstrual cycle phase determination using 35-day within-person assessments of circulating ovarian hormones from 96 females across the menstrual cycle. Findings indicate that all three common methods are error-prone, resulting in phases being incorrectly determined for many participants, with Cohen's kappa estimates ranging from -0.13 to 0.53 indicating disagreement to only moderate agreement depending on the comparison. Such methodological challenges are surmountable through careful study design, more frequent hormone assays (when possible), and utilization of sophisticated statistical methods. With increased methodological rigor in behavioral, psychological and neuroscientific research, the field will be poised to detect biobehavioral correlates of ovarian hormone fluctuations for the betterment of the mental health and wellbeing of millions of females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilianne M Gloe
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Stefanie Russman Block
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Kelly L Klump
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Adriene M Beltz
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jason S Moser
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
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3
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Aloufi N, Heinrich A, Marshall K, Kluk K. Sex differences and the effect of female sex hormones on auditory function: a systematic review. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1077409. [PMID: 37151900 PMCID: PMC10161575 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1077409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims First, to discuss sex differences in auditory function between women and men, and whether cyclic fluctuations in levels of female sex hormones (i.e., estradiol and progesterone) affect auditory function in pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women. Second, to systematically review the literature concerning the discussed patterns in order to give an overview of the methodologies used in research. Last, to identify the gap in knowledge and to make recommendations for future work. Methods for the systematic review Population, Exposure, Control, Outcome and Study design (PECOS) criteria were used in developing the review questions. The review protocol follows the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and was pre-registered in the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42020201480). Data Sources: EMBASE, PubMed, MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO, ComDisDome, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) via Cochrane Library, and scanning reference lists of relevant studies, and internet resources (i.e., Mendeley) were used. Only studies published between 1999 and 2022, in English, or in English translation, were included. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Results Sex differences: Women had more sensitive hearing (measured at the level of peripheral and central auditory system) than men. Cyclic fluctuations: Auditory function in women fluctuated during the menstrual cycle, while no such fluctuations in men over the same time period were reported. Hearing sensitivity improved in women during the late follicular phase, and decrease during the luteal phase, implying an effect of female sex hormones, although the specific effects of estradiol and progesterone fluctuations on the central auditory system remain unclear. Hearing sensitivity in women declined rapidly at the onset of menopause. Conclusion The review has shown the following. Consistent sex differences exist in auditory function across the auditory pathway with pre-menopausal women often showing better function than age-matched men. Moreover, pre-menopausal women show fluctuations in hearing function across the menstrual cycle with a better function during the peak of estradiol or when the ratio of estradiol to progesterone is high. Third, menopause marks the onset of hearing loss in women, characterized by a rapid decline in hearing sensitivity and a more pronounced loss than in age-matched men. Finally, the systematic review highlights the need for well-designed and -controlled studies to evaluate the influence of estradiol and progesterone on hearing by consistently including control groups (e.g., age-matched man), using objective tests to measure hormonal levels (e.g., in saliva or blood), and by testing participants at different points across the menstrual cycle. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020201480, identifier CRD42020201480.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nada Aloufi
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- College of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia
| | - Antje Heinrich
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Kay Marshall
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, School of Health Sciences, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Karolina Kluk
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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4
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Abstract
There is now a significant body of literature concerning sex/gender differences in the human brain. This chapter will critically review and synthesise key findings from several studies that have investigated sex/gender differences in structural and functional lateralisation and connectivity. We argue that while small, relative sex/gender differences reliably exist in lateralisation and connectivity, there is considerable overlap between the sexes. Some inconsistencies exist, however, and this is likely due to considerable variability in the methodologies, tasks, measures, and sample compositions between studies. Moreover, research to date is limited in its consideration of sex/gender-related factors, such as sex hormones and gender roles, that can explain inter-and inter-individual differences in brain and behaviour better than sex/gender alone. We conclude that conceptualising the brain as 'sexually dimorphic' is incorrect, and the terms 'male brain' and 'female brain' should be avoided in the neuroscientific literature. However, this does not necessarily mean that sex/gender differences in the brain are trivial. Future research involving sex/gender should adopt a biopsychosocial approach whenever possible, to ensure that non-binary psychological, biological, and environmental/social factors related to sex/gender, and their interactions, are routinely accounted for.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Hodgetts
- School of Psychology, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK
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5
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Bonelli C, Mancuso L, Manuello J, Liloia D, Costa T, Cauda F. Sex differences in brain homotopic co-activations: a meta-analytic study. Brain Struct Funct 2022; 227:2839-2855. [PMID: 36269398 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-022-02572-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
An element of great interest in functional connectivity is 'homotopic connectivity' (HC), namely the connectivity between two mirrored areas of the two hemispheres, mainly mediated by the fibers of the corpus callosum. Despite a long tradition of studying sexual dimorphism in the human brain, to our knowledge only one study has addressed the influence of sex on HC.We investigated the issue of homotopic co-activations in women and men using a coordinate-based meta-analytic method and data from the BrainMap database. A first unexpected observation was that the database was affected by a sex bias: women-only groups are investigated less often than men-only ones, and they are more often studied in certain domains such as emotion compared to men, and less in cognition. Implementing a series of sampling procedures to equalize the size and proportion of the datasets, our results indicated that females exhibit stronger interhemispheric co-activation than males, suggesting that the female brain is less lateralized and more integrated than that of males. In addition, males appear to show less intense but more extensive co-activation than females. Some local differences also appeared. In particular, it appears that primary motor and perceptual areas are more co-activated in males, in contrast to the opposite trend in the rest of the brain. This argues for a multidimensional view of sex brain differences and suggests that the issue should be approached with more complex models than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Bonelli
- FocusLab, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Giuseppe Verdi 10, 10124, Turin, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Mancuso
- FocusLab, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Giuseppe Verdi 10, 10124, Turin, Italy
| | - Jordi Manuello
- FocusLab, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Giuseppe Verdi 10, 10124, Turin, Italy
- Department of Psychology, GCS-fMRI, Koelliker Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Donato Liloia
- FocusLab, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Giuseppe Verdi 10, 10124, Turin, Italy
- Department of Psychology, GCS-fMRI, Koelliker Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Tommaso Costa
- FocusLab, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Giuseppe Verdi 10, 10124, Turin, Italy.
- Department of Psychology, GCS-fMRI, Koelliker Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
| | - Franco Cauda
- FocusLab, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Giuseppe Verdi 10, 10124, Turin, Italy
- Department of Psychology, GCS-fMRI, Koelliker Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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6
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Cohen ZZ, Gotlieb N, Erez O, Wiznitzer A, Arbel O, Matas D, Koren L, Henik A. Attentional networks during the menstrual cycle. Behav Brain Res 2022; 425:113817. [PMID: 35231499 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The menstrual cycle is characterized partially by fluctuations of the ovarian hormones estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4), which are implicated in the regulation of cognition. Research on attention in the different stages of the menstrual cycle is eclectic with discrepancies in attention definitions, and the three attentional networks (alerting, orienting and executive) and their interaction were not explored during the menstrual cycle. In the current study, we used the ANT-I (attentional network test - interactions) to examine naturally cycling women (NC) and women using oral contraceptives (OC). We tested their performance at two time points that fit, in natural cycles, the follicular phase and the luteal phase. We found no differences in performance between the two time points (day 4 / day 18) for the OC group: the response pattern replicated known ANT-I findings. However, the NC group showed differences between the two time points. In the follicular phase, responses replicated known ANT-I results, but in the luteal phase, alertness did not interact with executive and orienting networks, resulting in a larger congruency effect (executive network) when attention was not oriented to the target in alerting and no alerting conditions. Results-driven exploratory regression analysis of E2 and P4 suggested that change in P4 from the follicular phase/day 4 to the luteal phase/day 18 was a mediator for the alerting effect found between groups. In conclusion, the alerting state, found with or without alertness manipulation, suggests that there is a progesterone-mediated activation of the alerting system during the luteal phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahira Z Cohen
- Department of Psychology and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Neta Gotlieb
- Department of Psychology, University of California Berkeley, California, United States.
| | - Offer Erez
- Soroka University Medical Center and School of Medicine, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
| | - Arnon Wiznitzer
- Rabin Medical Center and Sacker faculty of medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
| | - Oded Arbel
- Mindfulness Clinic, Beer-Sheva Mental Health Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
| | - Devorah Matas
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
| | - Lee Koren
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
| | - Avishai Henik
- Department of Psychology and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
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7
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Szoeke C, Downie SJ, Parker AF, Phillips S. Sex hormones, vascular factors and cognition. Front Neuroendocrinol 2021; 62:100927. [PMID: 34119528 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2021.100927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
After more than a century of research, we have failed to develop a pharmacological prevention or cure for dementia. There are strong indicators that sex hormones influence cognition. In this paper we discuss the role of these hormones at the intersection between vascular disease and dementia, in light of the mounting literature covering the shared risk factors, pathological features alongside the timeline of hormonal change with the evolution of vascular and neurodegenerative disease. Interactive risk factors and the role of inflammation over the duration of disease evolution are highlighted. Our summary tables assessing the impact of estrogen-based hormone therapy on cognition over the past 45 years illustrate the effort expended to determine the ideal age for intervention and the type, dose, administration, and duration of therapy that might improve or protect cognition as well as alleviate menopausal symptoms. As the prevalence of dementia is rising and is higher in women, it is crucial we advance our knowledge from the "inconclusive" position statement on menopausal hormone therapy of the US Preventive Services Task Force.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Szoeke
- Healthy Ageing Program, Centre for Medical Research (Royal Melbourne Hospital), Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - S J Downie
- Healthy Ageing Program, Centre for Medical Research (Royal Melbourne Hospital), Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - A F Parker
- Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - S Phillips
- Healthy Ageing Program, Centre for Medical Research (Royal Melbourne Hospital), Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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8
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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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9
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Rauer L, Trost S, Petrovic A, Gruber O. Cortical activation abnormalities in bipolar and schizophrenia patients in a combined oddball-incongruence paradigm. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2021; 271:1487-1499. [PMID: 32710172 PMCID: PMC8563619 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-020-01168-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia often suffer from severe cognitive impairment even during times of remission. This study investigated the pathomechanisms underlying their deficits in cognitive control. A combined oddball-incongruence fMRI task was applied to examine similarities and differences of neural activation patterns between patients and healthy controls. Bipolar and schizophrenia patients demonstrated hyperactivations in the intraparietal cortex during the oddball condition. Furthermore, bipolar patients revealed diagnosis-specific hyperactivation in the left middle frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, anteroventral prefrontal cortex and orbitofrontal cortex regions compared to schizophrenia patients and healthy individuals. In comparison to healthy controls the patients showed hypoactivations in the inferior frontal junction and ventral pathway during the cognitively more demanding incongruence. Taken together, bipolar patients seem to recruit frontal and parietal areas during the oddball condition to compensate for potential deficits in their attentional network. During more challenging tasks, i.e., the incongruence condition, their compensatory mechanisms seem to collapse leading to hypoactivations in the same frontal areas as well as the ventral pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Rauer
- Section for Experimental Psychopathology and Neuroimaging, Department of General Psychiatry, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Sarah Trost
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Center for Translational Research in Systems Neuroscience and Clinical Psychiatry, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Aleksandra Petrovic
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Center for Translational Research in Systems Neuroscience and Clinical Psychiatry, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Oliver Gruber
- grid.5253.10000 0001 0328 4908Section for Experimental Psychopathology and Neuroimaging, Department of General Psychiatry, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany
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10
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Scheuringer A, Harris TA, Pletzer B. Recruiting the right hemisphere: Sex differences in inter-hemispheric communication during semantic verbal fluency. BRAIN AND LANGUAGE 2020; 207:104814. [PMID: 32502896 PMCID: PMC7611590 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2020.104814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences in cognitive functions are heavily debated. Recent work suggests that sex differences do stem from different processing strategies utilized by men and women. While these processing strategies are likely reflected in different brain networks, so far the link between brain networks and processing strategies remains speculative. In the present study we seek for the first time to link sex differences in brain activation patterns to sex differences in processing strategies utilizing a semantic verbal fluency task in a large sample of 35 men and 35 women, all scanned thrice. For verbal fluency, strategies of clustering and switching have been described. Our results show that men show higher activation in the brain network supporting clustering, while women show higher activation in the brain network supporting switching. Furthermore, converging evidence from activation results, lateralization indices and connectivity analyses suggests that men recruit the right hemisphere more strongly during clustering, but women during switching. These results may explain findings of differential performance and strategy-use in previous behavioral studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Scheuringer
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria; Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Ti-Anni Harris
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria; Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Belinda Pletzer
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria; Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
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11
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Zhang X, Liang M, Qin W, Wan B, Yu C, Ming D. Gender Differences Are Encoded Differently in the Structure and Function of the Human Brain Revealed by Multimodal MRI. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:244. [PMID: 32792927 PMCID: PMC7385398 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite widely reported gender differences in both brain structure and brain function, very few studies have examined the relationship between the structural differences and the functional differences between genders. Here, different imaging measures including both structural [i.e., gray matter volume (GMV)] and functional [i.e., regional homogeneity (ReHo) and functional connectivity (FC)] measures were employed to detect the gender differences in the human brain based on univariate and multivariate approaches with a sample of 290 healthy adults (155 females). The univariate analyses revealed that gender differences were detected in both structural (i.e., GMV) and functional (ReHo or FC) imaging measures, mainly manifested as greater values in females than in males in regions of the frontal, parietal, occipital lobes and cerebellum. Importantly, there was little overlap between the differences detected in GMV and those detected in ReHo and FC, and their differences between genders were not correlated with each other. The multivariate pattern analyses revealed that each of these measures had discriminative power to successfully distinguish between genders (classification accuracy: 94.3%, 90.73%, and 83.89% for GMV, ReHo, and FC, respectively) and their combination further improved the classification performance (96.6%). Our results suggest that gender differences are encoded in both brain structure and brain function, but in different manners. The finding of different and complementary information contained in structural and functional differences between genders highlights the complex relationship between brain structure and function, which may underlie the complex nature of gender differences in behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Precision Instruments and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,School of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Meng Liang
- School of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wen Qin
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Baikun Wan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Precision Instruments and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Chunshui Yu
- School of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Dong Ming
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Precision Instruments and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
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12
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Antipsychotic effects of sex hormones and atypical hemispheric asymmetries. Cortex 2020; 127:313-332. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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13
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Weis S, Patil KR, Hoffstaedter F, Nostro A, Yeo BTT, Eickhoff SB. Sex Classification by Resting State Brain Connectivity. Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:824-835. [PMID: 31251328 PMCID: PMC7444737 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A large amount of brain imaging research has focused on group studies delineating differences between males and females with respect to both cognitive performance as well as structural and functional brain organization. To supplement existing findings, the present study employed a machine learning approach to assess how accurately participants' sex can be classified based on spatially specific resting state (RS) brain connectivity, using 2 samples from the Human Connectome Project (n1 = 434, n2 = 310) and 1 fully independent sample from the 1000BRAINS study (n = 941). The classifier, which was trained on 1 sample and tested on the other 2, was able to reliably classify sex, both within sample and across independent samples, differing both with respect to imaging parameters and sample characteristics. Brain regions displaying highest sex classification accuracies were mainly located along the cingulate cortex, medial and lateral frontal cortex, temporoparietal regions, insula, and precuneus. These areas were stable across samples and match well with previously described sex differences in functional brain organization. While our data show a clear link between sex and regionally specific brain connectivity, they do not support a clear-cut dimorphism in functional brain organization that is driven by sex alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Weis
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Kaustubh R Patil
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Felix Hoffstaedter
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Alessandra Nostro
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Art and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - B T Thomas Yeo
- ECE, CIRC, N.1, MNP and NGS, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Simon B Eickhoff
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
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14
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Wong-Goodrich SJE, DeRosa HJ, Kee DW. Dual-Task Paradigm Reveals Variation in Left Hemisphere Involvement in Verbal Processing Across the Menstrual Cycle in Normally Cycling Women. Psychol Rep 2019; 123:2372-2393. [PMID: 31291167 DOI: 10.1177/0033294119862992] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive performance and cerebral hemispheric function are known to vary with fluctuating levels of estradiol and progesterone across the menstrual cycle in naturally cycling females. However, the literature is mixed with regard to how each hemisphere may be affected by elevated ovarian hormones. To better understand this, the current study employed a dual-task paradigm to examine potential shifts in hemispheric involvement for a verbal problem-solving task across the menstrual cycle in 30 right-handed, normally cycling young adult females (18-21 years old). To our knowledge, no study to date has utilized dual-task procedures to directly investigate the potential shifts in hemispheric function across the menstrual cycle. Specifically, participants were tested during both menses and their estimated midluteal phase where they engaged in repetitive unilateral finger-tapping while concurrently solving anagrams silently or aloud. Analysis of finger-tapping interference during the dual-task conditions revealed that solving anagrams silently was lateralized to the left hemisphere while solving anagrams aloud yielded a pattern of more bilateral hemispheric involvement, both of which were consistent across both menses and midluteal phases. Analysis of cognitive performance, however, revealed that silent anagrams performance while tapping with the right, but not left, hand significantly increased during the midluteal phase. Consistent with a number of other studies using different methodological approaches, the current dual-task findings suggest that when ovarian hormone levels are putatively elevated, there is enhanced recruitment of left hemisphere resources while performing a lateralized verbal task.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Holly J DeRosa
- Department of Psychology, Iona College, New Rochelle, NY, USA
| | - Daniel W Kee
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Fullerton, CA, USA
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15
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Westerhausen R. A primer on dichotic listening as a paradigm for the assessment of hemispheric asymmetry. Laterality 2019; 24:740-771. [DOI: 10.1080/1357650x.2019.1598426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- René Westerhausen
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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16
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The effect of the menstrual cycle on dichotic listening. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212673. [PMID: 30794649 PMCID: PMC6386373 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the menstrual cycle on responses to a dichotic listening task. It was hypothesized that participants would exhibit a stronger right ear advantage during the menstrual cycle days when estrogen levels are at their peak. It was also hypothesized that the women not taking oral contraceptives would exhibit greater variations in ear advantage over the course of their menstrual cycle than those taking oral contraceptives. Finally, it was hypothesized that the error response rates would remain similar across different listening conditions and over the menstrual cycle. The participants were 30 women who took oral contraceptives and 15 who did not. They completed nine listening sessions comprised of three dichotic listening tasks: forced-left, forced-right, and open. The data were analyzed using a mixed effects models. The participants exhibited a reduction in right ear responses on the days that corresponded to when the level of estrogen would begin to increase. This response was different from what had been hypothesized. The analysis also indicated no response differences between the two groups of women. In addition, the women exhibited fewer errors over the course of the sessions, implying that they adapted to the task. The results indicate that the women’s hormone fluctuation across the menstrual cycle affected their responses to the forced-left, cognitive control, task only.
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17
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Carneiro CDS, Almeida AAFD, Ribas A, Kluk-De Kort K, Lima DO, Araújo AMGDD, Ferreira DADH, Martins ML, Freitas TMMWC, de Rosa MRD. Hormones and Auditory Perception: Study of Dichotic Listening in Women during the Menstrual Cycle. Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2019; 23:70-76. [PMID: 30647787 PMCID: PMC6331289 DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1626701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/17/2017] [Indexed: 10/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Dichotic listening refers to the ability to hear different sounds presented to each ear simultaneously. Objective The aim of the present study was to assess dichotic listening in women throughout the menstrual cycle. Methods The volunteers who met the eligibility criteria participated in a dichotic listening assessment composed of three tests: 1) staggered spondaic word test; 2) dichotic digits test; and 3) consonant-vowel test. The female participants were tested during two different phases of the menstrual cycle: the follicular (days 11 to 13) and luteal (days 23 to 26) phases. The phases were confirmed by measuring serum levels of the hormone estradiol. Results A total of 20 volunteers aged 18 to 49 years participated in the study (9 females and 11 males). In test 1, only the right ear of females showed better performance during the follicular phase (high estrogen levels), compared with the luteal phase (low estrogen levels); in test 2, there were no significant differences for any of the groups; and in test 3, both males and females showed significantly better performance in their right ear compared with their left ear. Conclusion The better performance of females during the follicular phase of the cycle may indicate that estrogen levels might have an influence on dichotic listening in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudia da Silva Carneiro
- Department of Speech Therapy, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
| | | | - Angela Ribas
- Post-Graduation Program in Communication Disorders, Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Karolina Kluk-De Kort
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Daviany Oliveira Lima
- Department of Speech Therapy, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
| | | | | | - Mariana Lopes Martins
- Department of Speech Therapy, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
| | | | - Marine Raquel Diniz de Rosa
- Department of Speech Therapy, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
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18
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Abstract
In this mini-review, I summarize and interpret the current status of sex/gender differences in terms of brain anatomy, brain function, behavior, and cognition. Based on this review and the reported findings, I conclude that most of these sex/gender differences are not large enough to support the assumption of sexual dimorphism in terms of brain anatomy, brain function, cognition, and behavior. Instead, I suggest that many brain and cognitive features are modulated by environment, culture, and practice (and several other influences). These influences interact with the menstrual cycle, the general hormone level, and current gender stereotypes in a way that has not yet been fully understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lutz Jäncke
- Division of Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- University Research Priority Program (URPP) “Dynamic of Healthy Aging”, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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19
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Hjelmervik H, Hausmann M, Craven AR, Hirnstein M, Hugdahl K, Specht K. Sex- and sex hormone-related variations in energy-metabolic frontal brain asymmetries: A magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. Neuroimage 2018; 172:817-825. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.01.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
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20
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Beking T, Geuze RH, van Faassen M, Kema IP, Kreukels BPC, Groothuis TGG. Prenatal and pubertal testosterone affect brain lateralization. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 88:78-91. [PMID: 29195161 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
After decades of research, the influence of prenatal testosterone on brain lateralization is still elusive, whereas the influence of pubertal testosterone on functional brain lateralization has not been investigated, although there is increasing evidence that testosterone affects the brain in puberty. We performed a longitudinal study, investigating the relationship between prenatal testosterone concentrations in amniotic fluid, pubertal testosterone concentrations in saliva, and brain lateralization (measured with functional Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (fTCD)) of the Mental Rotation, Chimeric Faces and Word Generation tasks. Thirty boys and 30 girls participated in this study at the age of 15 years. For boys, we found a significant interaction effect between prenatal and pubertal testosterone on lateralization of Mental Rotation and Chimeric Faces. In the boys with low prenatal testosterone levels, pubertal testosterone was positively related to the strength of lateralization in the right hemisphere, while in the boys with high prenatal testosterone levels, pubertal testosterone was negatively related to the strength of lateralization. For Word Generation, pubertal testosterone was negatively related to the strength of lateralization in the left hemisphere in boys. For girls, we did not find any significant effects, possibly because their pubertal testosterone levels were in many cases below quantification limit. To conclude, prenatal and pubertal testosterone affect lateralization in a task-specific way. Our findings cannot be explained by simple models of prenatal testosterone affecting brain lateralization in a similar way for all tasks. We discuss alternative models involving age dependent effects of testosterone, with a role for androgen receptor distribution and efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Beking
- University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Department Clinical & Developmental Neuropsychology, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - R H Geuze
- University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Department Clinical & Developmental Neuropsychology, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - M van Faassen
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Laboratory Medicine, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - I P Kema
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Laboratory Medicine, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - B P C Kreukels
- VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Department of Medical Psychology, Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - T G G Groothuis
- University of Groningen, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
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21
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Weis S, Hodgetts S, Hausmann M. Sex differences and menstrual cycle effects in cognitive and sensory resting state networks. Brain Cogn 2017; 131:66-73. [PMID: 29030069 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
It has not yet been established if resting state (RS) connectivity reflects stable characteristics of the brain, or if it is modulated by the psychological and/or physiological state of the participant. Based on research demonstrating sex hormonal effects in task-related brain activity, the present study aimed to investigate corresponding differences in RS networks. RS functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (RS fMRI) was conducted in women during three different menstrual cycle phases, while men underwent three repeated RS fMRI testing sessions. Independent component analysis was used to identify the default mode network (DMN) and an auditory RS network. For the DMN, RS connectivity was stable across testing sessions in men, but varied across the menstrual cycle in women. For the auditory network (AN), retest reliable sex difference was found. Although RS activity in the DMN has been interpreted as trait characteristic of functional brain organization, these findings suggest that RS activity in networks involving frontal areas might be less stable than in sensory-based networks and can dynamically fluctuate. This also implies that some of the previously reported effects of sex hormones on task-related activity might to some extent be mediated by cycle-related fluctuations in RS activity, especially when frontal areas are involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Weis
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Department of Psychology, Durham University, UK; Durham University Neuroimaging Centre (DUNIC), UK.
| | - Sophie Hodgetts
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, UK; Durham University Neuroimaging Centre (DUNIC), UK
| | - Markus Hausmann
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, UK; Durham University Neuroimaging Centre (DUNIC), UK
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22
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Cognitive Control Processes and Functional Cerebral Asymmetries: Association with Variation in the Handedness-Associated Gene LRRTM1. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:2268-2274. [PMID: 28321770 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0485-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive control processes play an essential role not only in controlling actions but also in guiding attentional selection processes. Interestingly, these processes are strongly affected by organizational principles of the cerebral cortex and related functional asymmetries, but the neurobiological foundations are elusive. We ask whether neurobiological mechanisms that affect functional cerebral asymmetries will also modulate effects of top-down control processes on functional cerebral asymmetries. To this end, we examined potential effects of the imprinted gene leucine-rich repeat transmembrane neuronal 1 (LRRTM1) on attentional biasing processes in a forced attention dichotic listening task in 983 healthy adult participants of Caucasian descent using the "iDichotic smartphone app." The results show that functional cerebral asymmetries in the language domain are associated with the rs6733871 LRRTM1 polymorphism when cognitive control and top-down attentional mechanisms modulate processes in bottom-up attentional selection processes that are dependent on functional cerebral asymmetries. There is no evidence for an effect of LRRTM1 on functional cerebral asymmetries in the language domain unrelated to cognitive control processes. The results suggest that cognitive control processes are an important factor to consider when being interested in the molecular genetic basis of functional cerebral architecture.
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23
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Hu XJ, Lau CC. Central conduction time in auditory brainstem response and ear advantage in dichotic listening across menstrual cycle. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0187672. [PMID: 29121103 PMCID: PMC5679549 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The ovarian hormones fluctuate during the menstrual cycle in women. Such fluctuation of sex hormones, in particular estrogen, is believed to affect the central conduction time in auditory function as well as the language lateralization in cognitive function. However, findings are inconsistent. The underlying mechanisms are also unclear. This paper examined if there was any relation between the central conduction time and the language lateralization at different times during the menstrual cycle. Twenty young women with normal menstrual cycle were tested four times (5 to 7 days apart) across the menstrual cycle. The test battery included the electrophysiological measurement of auditory evoked response in brainstem and the speech performance in dichotic listening with monosyllables as stimulus pairs. The dichotic listening task was conducted under the non-forced, forced-right and forced-left attention. The central conduction time was defined by the time elapsed between two auditory elicited responses along the auditory pathway. The language lateralization in dichotic listening was expressed in ear advantage, which was the right-ear score minus the left-ear score. The results showed that the effects of test time were significant on both the central conduction time and the ear advantage under the forced-left attention. Overall, the interaural difference in the central conduction time correlates with the ear advantage (non-forced attention) at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. The change in central conduction time between two test times correlates significantly with the change in ear advantage under the non-forced and forced-left attention. Conclusively, the central conduction time depends on the time during the menstrual cycle, which in turn may affect the performance in dichotic listening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Jun Hu
- College of Medical Technology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Chi-Chuen Lau
- Independent Scholar, Des Plaines, Illinois, United States of America
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24
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Killeen T, Easthope CS, Filli L, Lőrincz L, Schrafl-Altermatt M, Brugger P, Linnebank M, Curt A, Zörner B, Bolliger M. Increasing cognitive load attenuates right arm swing in healthy human walking. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2017; 4:160993. [PMID: 28280596 PMCID: PMC5319362 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Human arm swing looks and feels highly automated, yet it is increasingly apparent that higher centres, including the cortex, are involved in many aspects of locomotor control. The addition of a cognitive task increases arm swing asymmetry during walking, but the characteristics and mechanism of this asymmetry are unclear. We hypothesized that this effect is lateralized and a Stroop word-colour naming task-primarily involving left hemisphere structures-would reduce right arm swing only. We recorded gait in 83 healthy subjects aged 18-80 walking normally on a treadmill and while performing a congruent and incongruent Stroop task. The primary measure of arm swing asymmetry-an index based on both three-dimensional wrist trajectories in which positive values indicate proportionally smaller movements on the right-increased significantly under dual-task conditions in those aged 40-59 and further still in the over-60s, driven by reduced right arm flexion. Right arm swing attenuation appears to be the norm in humans performing a locomotor-cognitive dual-task, confirming a prominent role of the brain in locomotor behaviour. Women under 60 are surprisingly resistant to this effect, revealing unexpected gender differences atop the hierarchical chain of locomotor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Killeen
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, University Hospital Balgrist, Forchstrasse 340, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christopher S. Easthope
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, University Hospital Balgrist, Forchstrasse 340, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Linard Filli
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lilla Lőrincz
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Miriam Schrafl-Altermatt
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, University Hospital Balgrist, Forchstrasse 340, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Brugger
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Linnebank
- Department of Neurology, Helios-Klinik Hagen-Ambrock, Ambrocker Weg 60, 58091 Hagen, Germany
| | - Armin Curt
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, University Hospital Balgrist, Forchstrasse 340, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Björn Zörner
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, University Hospital Balgrist, Forchstrasse 340, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marc Bolliger
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, University Hospital Balgrist, Forchstrasse 340, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
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25
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Hausmann M. Why sex hormones matter for neuroscience: A very short review on sex, sex hormones, and functional brain asymmetries. J Neurosci Res 2016; 95:40-49. [DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Revised: 07/01/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Markus Hausmann
- Department of Psychology; Durham University; Durham United Kingdom
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26
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Kranczioch C, Lindig A, Hausmann M. Sex hormones modulate neurophysiological correlates of visual temporal attention. Neuropsychologia 2016; 91:86-98. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Revised: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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27
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Papadatou-Pastou M, Martin M, Mohr C. Salivary testosterone levels are unrelated to handedness or cerebral lateralization for language. Laterality 2016; 22:123-156. [DOI: 10.1080/1357650x.2016.1149485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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28
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Hodgetts S, Hausmann M, Weis S. High estradiol levels improve false memory rates and meta-memory in highly schizotypal women. Psychiatry Res 2015; 229:708-14. [PMID: 26292620 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2015.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Revised: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Overconfidence in false memories is often found in patients with schizophrenia and healthy participants with high levels of schizotypy, indicating an impairment of meta-cognition within the memory domain. In general, cognitive control is suggested to be modulated by natural fluctuations in oestrogen. However, whether oestrogen exerts beneficial effects on meta-memory has not yet been investigated. The present study sought to provide evidence that high levels of schizotypy are associated with increased false memory rates and overconfidence in false memories, and that these processes may be modulated by natural differences in estradiol levels. Using the Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm, it was found that highly schizotypal participants with high estradiol produced significantly fewer false memories than those with low estradiol. No such difference was found within the low schizotypy participants. Highly schizotypal participants with high estradiol were also less confident in their false memories than those with low estradiol; low schizotypy participants with high estradiol were more confident. However, these differences only approached significance. These findings suggest that the beneficial effect of estradiol on memory and meta-memory observed in healthy participants is specific to highly schizotypal individuals and might be related to individual differences in baseline dopaminergic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Hodgetts
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom.
| | - Markus Hausmann
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Susanne Weis
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
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29
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Hodgetts S, Weis S, Hausmann M. Sex hormones affect language lateralisation but not cognitive control in normally cycling women. Horm Behav 2015; 74:194-200. [PMID: 26145565 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2015] [Revised: 06/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
This article is part of a Special Issue "Estradiol and Cognition". Natural fluctuations of sex hormones during the menstrual cycle have been shown to modulate language lateralisation. Using the dichotic listening (DL) paradigm, a well-established measurement of language lateralisation, several studies revealed that the left hemispheric language dominance was stronger when levels of estradiol were high. A recent study (Hjelmervik et al., 2012) showed, however, that high levels of follicular estradiol increased lateralisation only in a condition that required participants to cognitively control (top-down) the stimulus-driven (bottom-up) response. This finding suggested that sex hormones modulate lateralisation only if cognitive control demands are high. The present study investigated language lateralisation in 73 normally cycling women under three attention conditions that differed in cognitive control demands. Saliva estradiol and progesterone levels were determined by luminescence immunoassays. Women were allocated to a high or low estradiol group. The results showed a reduced language lateralisation when estradiol and progesterone levels were high. The effect was independent of the attention condition indicating that estradiol marginally affected cognitive control. The findings might suggest that high levels of estradiol especially reduce the stimulus-driven (bottom-up) aspect of lateralisation rather than top-down cognitive control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Hodgetts
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom.
| | - Susanne Weis
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Markus Hausmann
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
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30
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Rahman Q, Yusuf S. Lateralization for Processing Facial Emotions in Gay Men, Heterosexual Men, and Heterosexual Women. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2015; 44:1405-1413. [PMID: 25564038 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-014-0466-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Revised: 05/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/13/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This study tested whether male sexual orientation and gender nonconformity influenced functional cerebral lateralization for the processing of facial emotions. We also tested for the effects of sex of poser and emotion displayed on putative differences. Thirty heterosexual men, 30 heterosexual women, and 40 gay men completed measures of demographic variables, recalled childhood gender nonconformity (CGN), IQ, and the Chimeric Faces Test (CFT). The CFT depicts vertically split chimeric faces, formed with one half showing a neutral expression and the other half showing an emotional expression and performance is measured using a "laterality quotient" (LQ) score. We found that heterosexual men were significantly more right-lateralized when viewing female faces compared to heterosexual women and gay men, who did not differ significantly from each other. Heterosexual women and gay men were more left-lateralized for processing female faces. There were no significant group differences in lateralization for male faces. These results remained when controlling for age and IQ scores. There was no significant effect of CGN on LQ scores. These data suggest that gay men are feminized in some aspects of functional cerebral lateralization for facial emotion. The results were discussed in relation to the selectivity of functional lateralization and putative brain mechanisms underlying sexual attraction towards opposite-sex and same-sex targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qazi Rahman
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, 5th Floor, Bermondsey Wing, Guy's Hospital Campus, London, SE1 9RT, UK,
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Hjelmervik H, Hausmann M, Osnes B, Westerhausen R, Specht K. Resting states are resting traits--an FMRI study of sex differences and menstrual cycle effects in resting state cognitive control networks. PLoS One 2014; 9:e103492. [PMID: 25057823 PMCID: PMC4110030 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
To what degree resting state fMRI is stable or susceptible to internal mind states of the individual is currently an issue of debate. To address this issue, the present study focuses on sex differences and investigates whether resting state fMRI is stable in men and women or changes within relative short-term periods (i.e., across the menstrual cycle). Due to the fact that we recently reported menstrual cycle effects on cognitive control based on data collected during the same sessions, the current study is particularly interested in fronto-parietal resting state networks. Resting state fMRI was measured in sixteen women during three different cycle phases (menstrual, follicular, and luteal). Fifteen men underwent three sessions in corresponding time intervals. We used independent component analysis to identify four fronto-parietal networks. The results showed sex differences in two of these networks with women exhibiting higher functional connectivity in general, including the prefrontal cortex. Menstrual cycle effects on resting states were non-existent. It is concluded that sex differences in resting state fMRI might reflect sexual dimorphisms in the brain rather than transitory activating effects of sex hormones on the functional connectivity in the resting brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene Hjelmervik
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- * E-mail:
| | - Markus Hausmann
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Berge Osnes
- Bjørgvin District Psychiatric Centre, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - René Westerhausen
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Karsten Specht
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medical Engineering, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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Hirnstein M, Hugdahl K, Hausmann M. How brain asymmetry relates to performance - a large-scale dichotic listening study. Front Psychol 2014; 4:997. [PMID: 24427151 PMCID: PMC3877751 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 12/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
All major mental functions including language, spatial and emotional processing are lateralized but how strongly and to which hemisphere is subject to inter- and intraindividual variation. Relatively little, however, is known about how the degree and direction of lateralization affect how well the functions are carried out, i.e., how lateralization and task performance are related. The present study therefore examined the relationship between lateralization and performance in a dichotic listening task for which we had data available from 1839 participants. In this task, consonant-vowel syllables are presented simultaneously to the left and right ear, such that each ear receives a different syllable. When asked which of the two they heard best, participants typically report more syllables from the right ear, which is a marker of left-hemispheric speech dominance. We calculated the degree of lateralization (based on the difference between correct left and right ear reports) and correlated it with overall response accuracy (left plus right ear reports). In addition, we used reference models to control for statistical interdependency between left and right ear reports. The results revealed a u-shaped relationship between degree of lateralization and overall accuracy: the stronger the left or right ear advantage, the better the overall accuracy. This u-shaped asymmetry-performance relationship consistently emerged in males, females, right-/non-right-handers, and different age groups. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that performance on lateralized language functions depends on how strongly these functions are lateralized. The present study further stresses the importance of controlling for statistical interdependency when examining asymmetry-performance relationships in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Hirnstein
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen Bergen, Norway
| | - Kenneth Hugdahl
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen Bergen, Norway ; Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital Bergen, Norway ; Department of Radiology, Haukeland University Hospital Oslo, Norway
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Thimm M, Weis S, Hausmann M, Sturm W. Menstrual cycle effects on selective attention and its underlying cortical networks. Neuroscience 2013; 258:307-17. [PMID: 24262802 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2013] [Revised: 10/31/2013] [Accepted: 11/05/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
It was the aim of the present study to investigate menstrual cycle effects on selective attention and its underlying functional cerebral networks. Twenty-one healthy, right-handed, normally cycling women were investigated by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging using a go/no-go paradigm during the menstrual, follicular and luteal phase. On the behavioral level there was a significant interaction between visual half field and cycle phase with reaction times to right-sided compared to left-sided stimuli being faster in the menstrual compared to the follicular phase. These results might argue for a more pronounced functional cerebral asymmetry toward the left hemisphere in selective attention during the menstrual phase with low estradiol and progesterone levels. Functional imaging, however, did not reveal clear-cut menstrual phase-related changes in activation pattern in parallel to these behavioral findings. A functional connectivity analysis identified differences between the menstrual and the luteal phase: During the menstrual phase, left inferior parietal cortex showed a stronger negative correlation with the right middle frontal gyrus while the left medial frontal cortex showed a stronger negative correlation with the left middle frontal gyrus. These results can serve as further evidence of a modulatory effect of steroid hormones on networks of lateralized cognitive functions not only by interhemispheric inhibition but also by affecting intrahemispheric functional connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Thimm
- Department of Neurology, Section Clinical Neuropsychology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - S Weis
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - M Hausmann
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - W Sturm
- Department of Neurology, Section Clinical Neuropsychology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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Westerhausen R, Passow S, Kompus K. Reactive cognitive-control processes in free-report consonant-vowel dichotic listening. Brain Cogn 2013; 83:288-96. [PMID: 24121447 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2013.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2013] [Revised: 09/18/2013] [Accepted: 09/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The relevance of cognitive-control processes has been frequently discussed and studied in the context of dichotic listening. Experimental and clinical studies indicate that directing attention to either of the two simultaneously presented phonological stimuli, but especially to the left-ear stimulus increases the requirements for cognitive-control processes. Here, we extend this view by reporting the results of a behavioural and a functional magnetic-resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment designed to analyse the involvement of cognitive-control processes also in a free-report dichotic-listening paradigm. It was hypothesised that dichotically presented pairs of stop-consonant-vowel syllables would provide different demands for cognitive-control processes as a function of the spectro-temporal overlap of the two stimuli. Accordingly, in Experiment 1 it was shown that dichotic syllables of high (e.g., /ba/ and /ga/) as opposed to low spectro-temporal overlap (e.g., /ba/ and /ka/) produce significantly faster and more correct answers, and are more often perceived as one syllable. In Experiment 2 it was further shown that pairs of low as compared to high spectro-temporal overlap trigger a more pronounced activation predominately in left-hemispheric, speech-associated brain regions, namely left posterior inferior sulcus/gyrus, bilaterally in pre-supplementary motor and mid-cingulate cortex as well as in the inferior parietal lobe. Taken together, behavioural and functional data indicate a stronger involvement of reactive cognitive control in the processing of low-overlap as opposed to high-overlap stimulus pairs. This supports the notion that higher-order, speech-related cognitive-control processes also are involved in a free-report dichotic-listening paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- René Westerhausen
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Norway; Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
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Sex hormonal modulation of interhemispheric transfer time. Neuropsychologia 2013; 51:1734-41. [PMID: 23727572 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2013.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2013] [Revised: 05/21/2013] [Accepted: 05/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
It is still a matter of debate whether functional cerebral asymmetries (FCA) of many cognitive processes are more pronounced in men than in women. Some evidence suggests that the apparent reduction in women's FCA is a result of the fluctuating levels of gonadal steroid hormones over the course of the menstrual cycle, making their FCA less static than for men. The degree of lateralization has been suggested to depend on interhemispheric communication that may be modulated by gonadal steroid hormones. Here, we employed visual-evoked EEG potentials to obtain a direct measure of interhemispheric communication during different phases of the menstrual cycle. The interhemispheric transfer time (IHTT) was estimated from the interhemispheric latency difference of the N170 component of the visual-evoked potential from either left or right visual field presentation. Nineteen right-handed women with regular menstrual cycles were tested twice, once during the menstrual phase, when progesterone and estradiol levels are low, and once during the luteal phase when progesterone and estradiol levels are high. Plasma steroid levels were determined by blood-based immunoassay at each session. It was found that IHTT, in particular from right-to-left, was generally longer during the luteal phase relative to the menstrual phase. This effect occurred as a consequence of a slowed absolute N170 latency of the indirect pathway (i.e. left hemispheric response after LVF stimulation) and, in particular, a shortened latency of the direct pathway (i.e. right hemispheric response after LVF stimulation) during the luteal phase. These results show that cycle-related effects are not restricted to modulation of processes between hemispheres but also apply to cortical interactions, especially within the right hemisphere. The findings support the view that plastic changes in the female brain occur during relatively short-term periods across the menstrual cycle.
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Bless JJ, Westerhausen R, Arciuli J, Kompus K, Gudmundsen M, Hugdahl K. "Right on all Occasions?" - On the Feasibility of Laterality Research Using a Smartphone Dichotic Listening Application. Front Psychol 2013; 4:42. [PMID: 23404376 PMCID: PMC3566356 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2012] [Accepted: 01/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Most psychological experimentation takes place in laboratories aiming to maximize experimental control; however, this creates artificial environments that are not representative of real-life situations. Since cognitive processes usually take place in noisy environments, they should also be tested in these contexts. The recent advent of smartphone technology provides an ideal medium for such testing. In order to examine the feasibility of mobile devices (MD) in psychological research in general, and laterality research in particular, we developed a MD version of the widely used speech laterality test, the consonant-vowel dichotic listening (DL) paradigm, for use with iPhones/iPods. First, we evaluated the retest reliability and concurrent validity of the DL paradigm in its MD version in two samples tested in controlled, laboratory settings (Experiment 1). Second, we explored its ecological validity by collecting data from the general population by means of a free release of the MD version (iDichotic) to the iTunes App Store (Experiment 2). The results of Experiment 1 indicated high reliability (rICC = 0.78) and validity (rICC = 0.76–0.82) of the MD version, which consistently showed the expected right ear advantage (REA). When tested in real-life settings (Experiment 2), participants (N = 167) also showed a significant REA. Importantly, the size of the REA was not dependent on whether the participants chose to listen to the syllables in their native language or not. Together, these results establish the current MD version as a valid and reliable method for administering the DL paradigm both in experimentally controlled as well as uncontrolled settings. Furthermore, the present findings support the feasibility of using smartphones in conducting large-scale field experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef J Bless
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen Bergen, Norway
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