An Evolutionary Biodevelopmental Neuroscience of Same-Sex Sexual Orientation and Transgender Identity

同性性取向和跨性别身份的进化生物发育神经科学

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-03659
• 负责人: VanderLaan, Doug
• 金额: $ 4.01万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 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=764201
• 关键词: Evolutionary; Biodevelopmental; Neuroscience; Same; Sex

My research program aims to achieve an integrated evolutionary biodevelopmental neuroscience of sexual orientation and gender diversity. Same-sex sexual orientation (relative to birth-assigned sex) is thought to be influenced by biological processes that apply across populations and is expressed as either cisgender (cis; i.e., gender identity/role and birth-assigned sex align) or transgender (trans; i.e., gender identity/role and birth-assigned sex do not align). The proposed research consists of three projects designed to test the hypothesis that cis vs. trans expressions of same-sex sexual orientation have distinct biological bases. A critical aspect of the research design is that these projects are conducted in Thailand. Given most prior work on the biology of same-sex sexual orientation focused on Western populations, examining Thai participants provides strong tests of the idea that biological processes influencing sexual orientation apply across populations. Moreover, due to the high visibility and social acceptance of sexual and gender diversity in Thailand, it is one of the few populations in which it is feasible to recruit sufficiently large samples of cis and trans same-sex attracted individuals for rigorous studies. Project 1 tests several individual hypotheses regarding the biodevelopment and evolution of same-sex sexual orientation. Specifically, it consists of studies that examine markers of genetic, hormonal, and immune processes thought to underpin same-sex sexual orientation biodevelopment. It also tests two evolutionary hypotheses regarding same-sex sexual orientation: kin and balancing selection. Project 2 evaluates the possible existence of same-sex attracted subgroups. Genetic, hormonal, and immune processes are predicted to each apply to a subgroup of same-sex attracted individuals. Based on prior research, it is expected that these subgroups will be delineated by gender expression and that different subgroups will show evidence of distinct evolutionary origins. Project 3 tests the idea that biological processes influence sexual orientation and gender identity via their impacts on sexual differentiation of the brain. Thus, this project compares sex-differentiated aspects of brain structure (i.e., cortical thickness and surface area, white matter microstructure) in relation to sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. This project will also explore brain-biodevelopment-evolution links. Together, these projects will elucidate the biological bases of sexual orientation and gender diversity. In so doing, they will also inform understanding of sexual differentiation of the brain and behaviour. In addition, this program of research will furnish unique training opportunities for highly qualified personnel and provide a model for how to integrate evolution, biodevelopment, and neuroscience to achieve comprehensive understanding of complex psychological traits.

我的研究计划旨在实现性取向和性别多样性的综合进化生物发育神经科学。同性性取向（相对于出生指定的性别）被认为是受生物过程的影响，适用于整个人群，并表示为顺性（顺式;即，性别认同/角色和出生指定的性别对齐）或跨性别者（transgender;即，性别认同/角色和出生指定性别不一致）。拟议的研究由三个项目组成，旨在检验同性性取向的顺式与反式表达具有不同生物学基础的假设。研究设计的一个关键方面是这些项目在泰国进行。鉴于大多数关于同性性取向生物学的先前工作都集中在西方人群中，对泰国参与者的研究为影响性取向的生物学过程适用于整个人群的想法提供了强有力的测试。此外，由于泰国的性和性别多样性的高知名度和社会接受度，它是为数不多的人口中，它是可行的招募足够大的样本的顺式和反式同性吸引的个人进行严格的研究之一。项目1测试了几个关于同性性取向的生物发育和进化的假设。具体来说，它包括研究遗传，激素和免疫过程的标志物，这些标志物被认为是同性性取向生物发育的基础。它还测试了关于同性性取向的两个进化假设：亲属和平衡选择。项目2评估可能存在的同性吸引的亚群。遗传，激素和免疫过程预测每个适用于同性吸引的个人的一个亚组。根据之前的研究，预计这些亚组将根据性别表达来划分，并且不同的亚组将显示出不同进化起源的证据。项目3测试了生物过程通过影响大脑的性别分化来影响性取向和性别认同的想法。因此，该项目比较了大脑结构的性别差异方面（即，皮质厚度和表面积、白色物质微观结构）与性别、性取向和性别认同的关系。该项目还将探索大脑-生物发育-进化的联系。这些项目将共同阐明性取向和性别多样性的生物学基础。在这样做的过程中，它们还将为理解大脑和行为的性别差异提供信息。此外，该研究计划将为高素质人才提供独特的培训机会，并为如何整合进化，生物发育和神经科学提供模型，以实现对复杂心理特征的全面理解。