Sex differences and menstrual cycle effects in cognitive and sensory resting state networks

Weis, S.; Hodgetts, S.; Hausmann, M.

Abstract

It has not yet been established if resting state (RS) connectivity reflects stable characteristics of the brain, or if it is modulated by the psychological and/or physiological state of the participant. Based on research demonstrating sex hormonal effects in task-related brain activity, the present study aimed to investigate corresponding differences in RS networks. RS functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (RS fMRI) was conducted in women during three different menstrual cycle phases, while men underwent three repeated RS fMRI testing sessions. Independent component analysis was used to identify the default mode network (DMN) and an auditory RS network. For the DMN, RS connectivity was stable across testing sessions in men, but varied across the menstrual cycle in women. For the auditory network (AN), retest reliable sex difference was found. Although RS activity in the DMN has been interpreted as trait characteristic of functional brain organization, these findings suggest that RS activity in networks involving frontal areas might be less stable than in sensory-based networks and can dynamically fluctuate. This also implies that some of the previously reported effects of sex hormones on task-related activity might to some extent be mediated by cycle-related fluctuations in RS activity, especially when frontal areas are involved

Citation

Weis, S., Hodgetts, S., & Hausmann, M. (2019). Sex differences and menstrual cycle effects in cognitive and sensory resting state networks. Brain and Cognition, 131, 66-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2017.09.003

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 5, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Oct 10, 2017
• Publication Date: Apr 30, 2019
• Deposit Date: Sep 6, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 10, 2018
• Journal: Brain and Cognition
• Print ISSN: 0278-2626
• Electronic ISSN: 1090-2147
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 131
• Pages: 66-73
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2017.09.003
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1377267