Characterizing neural profiles in males & females, as well as their relation to sex hormones: A multimodal imaging approach

标题：综合神经成像和电皮层方法在男性中的神经特征。这项研究的首要目标是在正在进行的和未来的神经科学工作中合理地整合两性，以及使用性别意识的“镜头”来解释神经科学数据。***女性在历史上一直被排除在神经科学（以及更广泛的医学）研究之外，这在很大程度上是因为波动的激素可能会影响神经特征，因此需要控制。当包括女性时，在解释结果时通常不会考虑激素的影响，从而在研究中产生偏见。在该计划中，将在静息状态以及空间旋转和面部表情识别任务期间检查神经剖面；这些领域已被证明在两性之间表现出微妙的行为差异。脑形态特征也将被检查（皮质厚度/结构体积）。本研究将使用脑电图（EEG）和脑电图衍生的事件相关电位（ERPs）以及神经成像方法进行。erp的精细时间分辨率允许评估前意识皮层过程，例如对情绪刺激的自动视觉检测，以及更多的认知，后来发生的神经元过程。EEG/ERP数据非常丰富，可以用多种方法进行分析。因此，分析EEG/ERP数据的多路复用方法可以极大地促进我们对男性和女性大脑的理解，以及这些神经剖面如何与性激素相关；这将是本项目A部分的重点。B部分，将利用功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）数据的高超空间分辨率来深入了解与情感/认知处理相关的神经区域，以及在男性和女性的静息状态下。这些数据将与同时记录的脑电图/ERP指数一起分析。总之，这些信息将为男女大脑的不同/重叠特征以及它们与性激素的关系提供最全面、最丰富的图景。

TITLE: Characterizing neural profiles in males eral neuroimaging and electrocortical approaches in tandem. The overarching goal of this research is to rationally integrate both sexes in ongoing and future neuroscience work, as well as to interpret neuroscience data using a gender conscious' lens.***Females have historically been largely excluded from neuroscience (and, more globally, medical) research due, in large part, to the fact that fluctuating hormones may influence neural features, and thus need to be controlled for. When females are included, hormonal effects are generally not considered when interpreting results, creating a bias in research. In the proposed program, neural profiles will be examined during resting-states as well as during a spatial rotation and facial expression recognition task; these domains have been shown to exhibit subtle behavioural differences between the sexes. Morphometric brain features will also be examined (cortical thickness/structural volume). This research will be conducted using electroencephalography (EEG) and EEG-derived event-related potentials (ERPs), as well as neuroimaging approaches. The exquisite temporal resolution of ERPs allows for assessment of pre-conscious cortical processes, such as automatic visual detection of emotive stimuli, and more cognitive, later-occurring, neuronal processes. EEG/ERP data is extremely rich, and can be analyzed in several ways. Thus, a multiplexed approach in analyzing EEG/ERP data can greatly advance our understanding of male and female brains, and how such neural profiles are related to sex hormones; this will be the focus of Part A of this program. Part B, will capitalize on the superb spatial resolution of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to gain insight into the neural regions associated with emotional/cognitive processing, as well as during resting-states, in males and females. This data will be analyzed in conjunction with simultaneously recorded EEG/ERP indices. Together, this information will provide the most holistic and rich picture of the distinct/overlapping features of male/female brains, and how they relate to sex hormones.