Gray matter volume differences between transgender men and cisgender women: A voxel-based morphometry study

2021 ◽  
pp. 000486742199880
Author(s):  
Taku Fukao ◽  
Kazutaka Ohi ◽  
Toshiki Shioiri
Keyword(s):  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Middle Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Cingulate Gyrus ◽  
Voxel Based Morphometry ◽  
Transgender People ◽  
Middle Temporal ◽  
Biological Sex ◽  
Posterior Cingulate Gyrus ◽  
Occipital Pole ◽  
Transgender Men

Objective: Gender dysphoria (GD) is characterized by distress due to inconsistency between gender identity and biological sex. Individuals with GD often desire to be the other gender, which is called transgender. Although altered brain volumes in transgender people, particularly transgender women, have been reported, the particular brain regions have been inconsistent among studies. This study aimed to investigate neuroanatomical differences in transgender men without physical interventions. Method: T1-weighted magnetic resonance images (MRIs) were acquired in 21 transgender men and 21 cisgender women matched for biological sex and age. Whole-brain comparisons using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) were performed to identify gray matter volume (GMV) differences between transgender men and cisgender women. Results: Transgender men showed greater GMV in the right posterior cingulate gyrus ( PFWE-corr = 3.06×10-6) and the left occipital pole ( PFWE-corr = 0.017) and lower GMV in the left middle temporal gyrus ( PFWE-corr = 0.017) than cisgender women. Even after including serum sex hormone levels as covariates, the posterior cingulate gyrus was still significant ( PFWE-corr < 0.05). In contrast, the occipital pole and the middle temporal gyrus were not significant after controlling for the sex hormone levels ( PFWE-corr > 0.05), especially affected by testosterone but not estradiol. Conclusion: These findings suggest that transgender men have altered brain structure. We suggest that larger posterior midline structures may contribute to sensitivity to self-referential processing through altered visual perception in transgender people.

scholarly journals Neural Correlates of Gender Face Perception in Transgender People

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1731
Author(s):  
Alessandra Daphne Fisher ◽  
Jiska Ristori ◽  
Giovanni Castellini ◽  
Carlotta Cocchetti ◽  
Emanuele Cassioli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neural Development ◽  
Gender Discrimination ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Blood Oxygenation ◽  
Angular Gyrus ◽  
Cingulate Gyrus ◽  
Transgender People ◽  
Posterior Cingulate ◽  
Posterior Cingulate Gyrus ◽  
Oxygenation Level

To date, MRI studies focused on brain sexual dimorphism have not explored the presence of specific neural patterns in gender dysphoria (GD) using gender discrimination tasks. Considering the central role of body image in GD, the present study aims to evaluate brain activation patterns with 3T-scanner functional MRI (fMRI) during gender face discrimination task in a sample of 20 hormone-naïve transgender and 20 cisgender individuals. Additionally, participants were asked to complete psychometric measures. The between-group analysis of average blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) activations of female vs. male face contrast showed a significant positive cluster in the bilateral precuneus in transmen when compared to the ciswomen. In addition, the transwomen group compared to the cismen showed higher activations also in the precuneus, as well as in the posterior cingulate gyrus, the angular gyrus and the lateral occipital cortices. Moreover, the activation of precuneus, angular gyrus, lateral occipital cortices and posterior cingulate gyrus was significantly associated with higher levels of body uneasiness. These results show for the first time the existence of a possible specific GD-neural pattern. However, it remains unclear if the differences in brain phenotype of transgender people may be the result of a sex-atypical neural development or of a lifelong experience of gender non-conformity.

scholarly journals 0080 Daytime Sleepiness Correlates with Increased Gray Matter Volume in the Right Middle Temporal Gyrus in Healthy Young Individuals

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A32-A32
Author(s):  
A I Burns ◽  
A Bullock ◽  
A C Raikes ◽  
N S Dailey ◽  
M A Grandner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Disorders ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Daytime Sleepiness ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Middle Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Intracranial Volume ◽  
Middle Temporal ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Right

Abstract Introduction Daytime sleepiness has been associated with some neuroimaging metrics, including altered functional connectivity within the default mode network and decreased gray matter volume (GMV) of the medial prefrontal cortex. Most prior studies, however, have focused on patients with sleep disorders or other pathologies. Here we examined the association between GMV and self-reported daytime sleepiness among a healthy group of young adults who reported no sleep-related problems. Methods Forty-five healthy adults (22 female; Mean Age=25.4, SD=5.6), who self-reported no history of sleep-related disorders or major medical conditions, completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Repeatable Battery for Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and underwent high-resolution structural neuroimaging at 3T. Gray matter volumes were processed using standard procedures in SPM12. After controlling for age, sex, and intracranial volume, GMV was regressed against ESS scores. Results Greater ESS was associated with larger GMV within a cluster of voxels in the right middle temporal gyrus (MNI coordinates: 57, -9, -22; k=1344 voxels, p=.003, FWE cluster corrected). After controlling for ESS scores, larger GMV in this region was associated with poorer delayed memory performance (r=-.345, p=.022) and total neurocognitive performance on the RBANS (r=-.303, p=.046). Conclusion Greater daytime sleepiness in healthy normal sleepers was associated with greater GMV within a region of the right middle temporal gyrus. Greater volume of this region was also associated with poorer neuropsychological performance. Decreased GMV of this same region has previously been reported in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia, suggesting that it may be particularly sensitive to sleep disruption or may play a role in the etiology of sleep disorders, even among young individuals who deny any history of sleep-related dysfunction. Longitudinal work should focus on the potential of this region as a biomarker of vulnerability to sleep problems. Support  

scholarly journals Brain morphologic abnormalities in migraine patients: an observational study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilla Bonanno ◽  
Viviana Lo Buono ◽  
Simona De Salvo ◽  
Claudio Ruvolo ◽  
Viviana Torre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Cingulate Gyrus ◽  
Voxel Based Morphometry ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Pathogenetic Mechanism ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
3.0 T ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽  
One Way Anova

Abstract Background: Migraine is a common neurological disorder characterized by a complex physiopathology. We assessed brain morphologic differences in migraine and the possible pathogenetic mechanism underlying this disease.Methods: We analyzed brain morphologic images of migraine patients, 14 with aura (MwA) [the mean (SD) age was 42.36 (2.95) years (range, 37-47)] and 14 without aura (MwoA) [the mean (SD) age was 43.5 (3.25) years (range, 39-50)] during episodic attack compared with health subjects balanced (HS) [the mean (SD) age was 42.5 (5.17) years (range, 34-51)]. All subjects underwent a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examination with a scanner operating at 3.0 T and voxel based morphometry (VBM) approach was used to examine the gray matter volume (GMV). The statistical analysis to compare clinicl characteristics was performed using unpaired t-test an one-way Anova. Results: Total cerebral GMV showed a significant difference between MwA and HS (p=0.02), and between MwoA and HS (p=0.003). In addition, not significative differences were found between MwA and MwoA groups (p=0.17). We found three clusters of regions which showed significant GMV reduction in MwA compared with MwoA. MwA subjects showed a less of GMV in 4 clusters if compared with HS, and MwoA subjects showed a less of GMV in 3 clusters if compared with HS. We observed that MwA and MwoA patients had a significant reduction of GMV in the frontal and temporal lobe and the cerebellum, if compared to HS. The bilateral fusiform gyrus and the cingulate gyrus were increase in MwoA patients compared with HS.Conclusion: Our findings could provide a approach to understand possible differences in the pathogenesis of two type of migraine.

Reduced gray matter volume in patients with retinal detachment: evidence from a voxel-based morphometry study

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-403
Author(s):  
Biao Li ◽  
Yu-Xin Liu ◽  
Hai-Jun Li ◽  
Qing Yuan ◽  
Pei-Wen Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Retinal Detachment ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Cingulate Gyrus ◽  
Voxel Based Morphometry ◽  
White Matter Volume ◽  
Whole Brain ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Brain White Matter

Background We know little about the pathogenesis and diagnosis of retinal detachment. Purpose To assess spontaneous changes in the cerebral cortex of patients with retinal detachment using voxel-based morphometry and to explore the relationship between retinal detachment and clinical behavioral performance. Material and Methods Patients (14 men, 6 women; average age = 49.15 ± 10.32 years) with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (duration of 24.05 ± 19.61 days) and 20 matched healthy controls were recruited. All participants underwent repeated functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. The original three-dimensional T1 brain images were analyzed using voxel-based morphometry and whole brain white matter volume and whole brain gray matter volume were compared with those of the control group. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to classify the mean gray matter volume values of the patients with retinal detachment compared with the controls. Results Compared with the controls, whole brain gray matter volume was significantly reduced in patients with retinal detachment, as evidenced by changes in the right inferior frontal gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus, right anterior cingulate gyrus, and right cuneus. In addition, the posterior lobe of the cerebellum, left hippocampus, left cingulate gyrus, and left middle temporal gyrus were also obviously atrophied. Furthermore, whole brain white matter volume of the patients with retinal detachment showed a slight reduction. The ROC curve analysis of each brain region showed that the accuracy of the area under the curve was high. Conclusion We proved that patients with retinal detachment had unusual changes in the gray matter volume and white matter volume in vision-related brain regions, which could reveal potential pathological mechanisms of retinal detachment.

scholarly journals Obsessive–Compulsive Symptoms and Related Sex Differences in Brain Structure: An MRI Study in Dutch Twins

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 516-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anouk den Braber ◽  
Eco J.C. de Geus ◽  
Dorret I. Boomsma ◽  
Dennis van ‘t Ent
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Developmental Trajectories ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Middle Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Brain Anatomy ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽  
Middle Temporal ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
The Right

Neuroimaging studies have indicated abnormalities in cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuits in obsessive–compulsive disorder patients, but results have not been consistent. Since there are significant sex differences in human brain anatomy and obsessive–compulsive symptomatology and its developmental trajectories tend to be distinct in males and females, we investigated whether sex is a potential source of heterogeneity in neuroimaging studies on obsessive–compulsive symptoms. We selected male and female twin pairs who were concordant for scoring either high or low for obsessive–compulsive symptoms and a group of discordant pairs where one twin scored high and the co-twin scored low. The design included 24 opposite-sex twin pairs. Magnetic resonance imaging scans of 31 males scoring high for obsessive–compulsive symptoms, 41 low-scoring males, 58 high-scoring females, and 73 low-scoring females were analyzed and the interaction of obsessive–compulsive symptoms by sex on gray matter volume was assessed using voxel-based morphometry. An obsessive–compulsive symptom by sex interaction was observed for the left middle temporal gyrus, the right middle temporal gyrus, and the right precuneus. These interactions acted to reduce or hide a main effect in our study and illustrate the importance of taking sex into account when investigating the neurobiology of obsessive–compulsive symptoms.

scholarly journals Substantively Lowered Levels of Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) in Several Regions of the Human Brain in Parkinson’s Disease Dementia

Metabolites ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 569
Author(s):  
Melissa Scholefield ◽  
Stephanie J. Church ◽  
Jingshu Xu ◽  
Stefano Patassini ◽  
Nigel M. Hooper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Substantia Nigra ◽  
Primary Visual Cortex ◽  
Entorhinal Cortex ◽  
Pantothenic Acid ◽  
Middle Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Cingulate Gyrus ◽  
Middle Temporal ◽  
Vitamin B5

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) is an essential trace nutrient required for the synthesis of coenzyme A (CoA). It has previously been shown that pantothenic acid is significantly decreased in multiple brain regions in both Alzheimer’s disease (ADD) and Huntington’s disease (HD). The current investigation aimed to determine whether similar changes are also present in cases of Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD), another age-related neurodegenerative condition, and whether such perturbations might occur in similar regions in these apparently different diseases. Brain tissue was obtained from nine confirmed cases of PDD and nine controls with a post-mortem delay of 26 h or less. Tissues were acquired from nine regions that show high, moderate, or low levels of neurodegeneration in PDD: the cerebellum, motor cortex, primary visual cortex, hippocampus, substantia nigra, middle temporal gyrus, medulla oblongata, cingulate gyrus, and pons. A targeted ultra–high performance liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) approach was used to quantify pantothenic acid in these tissues. Pantothenic acid was significantly decreased in the cerebellum (p = 0.008), substantia nigra (p = 0.02), and medulla (p = 0.008) of PDD cases. These findings mirror the significant decreases in the cerebellum of both ADD and HD cases, as well as the substantia nigra, putamen, middle frontal gyrus, and entorhinal cortex of HD cases, and motor cortex, primary visual cortex, hippocampus, middle temporal gyrus, cingulate gyrus, and entorhinal cortex of ADD cases. Taken together, these observations indicate a common but regionally selective disruption of pantothenic acid levels across PDD, ADD, and HD.

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