The fMRI correlates of visuo-spatial abilities: sex differences and gender dysphoria.

Autor: Gavazzi G; IRCCS SDN, Naples, Italy., Fisher AD; 'Mario Serio' Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy., Orsolini S; Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering 'Guglielmo Marconi', University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy., Bianchi A; Neuroradiology Unit, 'Careggi' University Hospital, Florence, Italy., Romani A; 'Mario Serio' Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy., Giganti F; Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Via San Salvi, 12, 50135, Florence, Italy., Giovannelli F; Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Via San Salvi, 12, 50135, Florence, Italy., Ristori J; 'Mario Serio' Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy., Mazzoli F; 'Mario Serio' Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy., Maggi M; 'Mario Serio' Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy., Viggiano MP; Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Via San Salvi, 12, 50135, Florence, Italy. mariapia.viggiano@unifi.it., Mascalchi M; 'Mario Serio' Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Brain imaging and behavior [Brain Imaging Behav] 2022 Apr; Vol. 16 (2), pp. 955-964. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Apr 06.
DOI: 10.1007/s11682-022-00638-5
Abstrakt: The contribution of brain regions to visuospatial abilities according to sex differences and gender identity is inconsistently described. One potential explaining factor may be the different tasks employed requiring a variable load of working memory and other cognitive resources. Here we asked to 20 cis and 20 transgender participants to undergo functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging during performance of a judgement line of orientation test that was adapted to explore the basic visuospatial processing while minimizing the working memory load. We show that V1 activation may be viewed as a brain area with enhanced activation in males, regardless of participants' gender identity. On its turn, gender identity exclusively influences the visuospatial processing of extrastriate visual areas (V5) in women with gender dysphoria. They showed enhanced V5 activation and an increased functional connectivity between V5 and V1. Overall our neuroimaging results suggest that the basic visuospatial abilities are associated with different activations pattern of cortical visual areas depending on the sex assigned at birth and gender identity.
(© 2022. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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