The largest brain imaging study carried out to date has just been released, the objective of which was to quantify the possible differences between the brains of men and those of women. Performed by the Amen Clinics, based in California (United States), data from 46,034 brain scan studies provided by nine different clinics have been analyzed using the SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) technique.
According to this macro-study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease , women’s brains were significantly more active in many more areas than men’s.
And that is something that happened especially in two regions : the prefrontal cortex – involved in, among other functions, decision making, problem solving or planning of cognitively complex behaviors – and also in the limbic or emotional zones – responsible, for example, from mood and anxiety. In contrast, according to brain imaging, the brain’s visual center and coordination center were more active in the case of men.
Key to understanding brain differences
Behind the research is psychiatrist Daniel Amen, founder and medical director of Amen Clinics. “This is a very important study to help understand gender-based brain differences. The measurable differences we identify between men and women are important to understanding gender-based risks for brain disorders like Alzheimer’s. Using neuroimaging tools, such as SPECT, is essential for the development, in the future, of precision medical treatments for the brain ”.
SPECT can evaluate cerebral blood perfusion. The images acquired with this method of individuals at rest or while carrying out various cognitive tasks show different blood flow in specific regions of the brain.
In this research, the group of subjects consisted of 119 healthy volunteers and 26,683 patients with different brain conditions, such as head trauma, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, mood disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Analyzes of 128 brain regions were carried out while the subjects were at rest and also while performing a task that required concentration.
According to those responsible for the study, understanding gender differences is important because brain disorders affect men and women differently. While they suffer significantly higher rates in diseases such as anxiety disorders, Alzheimer’s or depression – precisely the interrelation between the latter two is close – they present higher rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or problems related to conduct.
Research findings on increased blood flow in the prefrontal cortex of women, compared to men, could explain why women tend to be more empathetic, intuitive and collaborative and exercise greater self-control . Likewise, this increased blood flow in the limbic areas of the brain could clarify, in part, why they are also more vulnerable to problems with anxiety, depression, eating disorders or insomnia.
Gender Based Cerebral Perfusion Differences in 46,034 Functional Neuroimaging Scans, by Daniel G. Amen, MD, Manuel Trujillo, MD, David Keator, MS, Derek V. Taylor, Kristen Willeumier, PhD, Somayeh Meysami, MD, and Cyrus A. Raji, MD, PhD (DOI: 10.3233/JAD-170432). Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Volume 60.
