The impact of biological sex on the brain language network

在过去的十年里，美国国家科学院、神经科学界和主要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，研究健康人调查性别差异的结构和功能特征的大脑网络维持语言功能是稀缺的，基于小样本，并提供矛盾的结果。这是语言神经科学文献中的一个主要空白。 这项为期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获取的大数据计划获得的MRI数据集，如人类连接组项目和绿洲。MRI分析将包括研究连接语言网络核心区域的白色纤维束的微观和宏观特征（基于扩散MRI数据的纤维跟踪和纤维束测量）以及语言网络的功能连接性（静息状态功能MRI的基于种子的分析）。 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如何工作，发展和年龄至关重要。此外，该计划的结果对于从事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潜力。事实上，我们的研究结果将证明在评估患者和开发针对语言脑网络神经可塑性的康复疗法时考虑性别的重要性。在可行性方面，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。我们联合收割机结合了一套在神经影像学领域的专业知识，语言和衰老的认知神经科学必要进行拟议的研究计划。在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提出了挑战。通过加拿大创新基金会（CFI）的资助，我的实验室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多学科和协作研究环境。

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.