Gender differences in brain development in Chinese children and adolescents: a structural MRI study

Xiaojuan Guo; Zhen Jin; Kewei Chen; Danling Peng; Li Yao

doi:10.1117/12.770299

12 March 2008 Gender differences in brain development in Chinese children and adolescents: a structural MRI study

Xiaojuan Guo, Zhen Jin, Kewei Chen, Danling Peng, Li Yao

Proceedings Volume 6916, Medical Imaging 2008: Physiology, Function, and Structure from Medical Images; 69160A (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.770299
Event: Medical Imaging, 2008, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Using optimized voxel-based morphometry (VBM), this study systematically investigated gender differences in brain development through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data in 158 Chinese normal children and adolescents aged 7.26 to 22.80 years (mean age 15.03±4.70 years, 78 boys and 80 girls). Gender groups were matched for measures of age, handedness, education level. The customized brain templates, including T₁-weighted image and gray matter (GM)/white matter (WM)/cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) prior probability maps, were created from all participants. Results showed that the total intracranial volume (TIV), global absolute GM and global WM volume in girls were significantly smaller than those in boys. The hippocampus grew faster in girls than that in boys, but the amygdala grew faster in boys than that in girls. The rate of regional GM decreases with age was steeper in the left superior parietal lobule, bilateral inferior parietal lobule, left precuneus, and bilateral supramarginal gyrus in boys compared to girls, which was possibly related to better spatial processing ability in boys. Regional GM volumes were greater in bilateral superior temporal gyrus, bilateral inferior frontal gyrus and bilateral middle frontal gyrus in girls. Regional WM volumes were greater in the left temporal lobe, right inferior parietal and bilateral middle frontal gyrus in girls. The gender differences in the temporal and frontal lobe maybe be related to better language ability in girls. These findings may aid in understanding the differences in cognitive function between boys and girls.

Citation Download Citation

Xiaojuan Guo, Zhen Jin, Kewei Chen, Danling Peng, and Li Yao "Gender differences in brain development in Chinese children and adolescents: a structural MRI study", Proc. SPIE 6916, Medical Imaging 2008: Physiology, Function, and Structure from Medical Images, 69160A (12 March 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.770299

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