The impact of biological sex on the brain language network

生物性别对大脑语言网络的影响

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-04409
• 负责人: Brambati, SimonaMaria
• 金额: $ 2.4万
• 依托单位: Université de Montréal
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=763733
• 关键词: impact; biological; sex; brain; language

In the last ten years, the National Academy of Sciences, neuroscience community and major funding agencies have endorsed the importance of producing new fundamental research on sex differences in the brain. However, studies on healthy individuals investigating sex differences in the structural and functional characteristics of the brain network sustaining language functions are scarce, based on small samples and provide contradictory results. This represents a major gap in the literature on neuroscience of language. The general goal of the proposed 5-year research program is to better elucidate the role of sex on the structural and functional characteristics of the language network using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The research program will investigate this issue in young and older adults. The research program will use MRI datasets obtained through open-access big data initiatives, such as Human Connectome Project and Oasis. The MRI analysis will include the study of micro- and macro- characteristics of the white matter fiber bundles connecting the core regions of the language network (fiber tracking and tractometry based on diffusion MRI data) and the functional connectivity of the language network (seed-based analysis of resting state functional MRI). Understanding sex differences in the language brain network is essential to better understand how the language system works, develops, and ages. In addition, the results of this program have great potential for knowledge transfer and application by health science researchers working on neurological and psychiatric diseases affecting language functions. In fact, our results will demonstrate the importance of considering sex in the evaluation of patients and in the development of rehabilitation therapies targeting the neuroplasticity of the language brain network. In terms of feasibility, my laboratory has ten-year experience in conducting studies in the field of neuroscience of language using MRI-based neuroimaging approaches in adult populations. We combine a set of expertise in the field of neuroimaging, cognitive neuroscience of language and aging necessary to carry on the proposed research program. The neuroimaging analysis of large-scale MRI data proposed in the present program represents a challenge in terms of visualization, computational resources and storage. My laboratory has obtained the infrastructure necessary to face these challenges through Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) funding. All of these factors not only put me in an ideal position to lead the proposed research program but also offers a multidisciplinary and collaborative research environment for student training.

在过去的十年里，美国国家科学院、神经科学界和主要的资助机构都认可了对大脑性别差异进行新的基础研究的重要性。然而，在小样本的基础上，研究维持语言功能的大脑网络的结构和功能特征方面的性别差异的健康个体的研究很少，并且提供了相互矛盾的结果。这代表了语言神经科学文献中的一个重大空白。这项拟议的为期5年的研究计划的总体目标是利用磁共振成像(MRI)更好地阐明性别对语言网络结构和功能特征的作用。该研究计划将在年轻人和老年人中调查这一问题。该研究计划将使用通过开放访问大数据倡议获得的磁共振数据集，如人类连接项目和绿洲。MRI分析将包括研究连接语言网络核心区的白质纤维束的微观和宏观特征(基于扩散磁共振数据的纤维跟踪和跟踪测量)以及语言网络的功能连通性(基于静息状态功能MRI的种子分析)。了解语言大脑网络中的性别差异对于更好地了解语言系统是如何工作、发展和老化至关重要的。此外，该项目的成果对研究影响语言功能的神经和精神疾病的健康科学研究人员的知识转移和应用具有巨大的潜力。事实上，我们的结果将证明在评估患者和开发针对语言大脑网络的神经可塑性的康复治疗中考虑性别的重要性。就可行性而言，我的实验室在使用基于MRI的神经成像方法在成人人群中进行语言神经科学领域的研究方面有十年的经验。我们结合了神经成像、语言认知神经科学和衰老领域的一系列专业知识，进行拟议的研究计划。本计划中提出的大规模MRI数据的神经成像分析在可视化、计算资源和存储方面都是一个挑战。我的实验室已经通过加拿大创新基金会(CFI)的资金获得了应对这些挑战所需的基础设施。所有这些因素不仅使我处于领导拟议研究计划的理想位置，而且还为学生培训提供了一个多学科和协作的研究环境。