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Human brain asymmetry and the effects of sex and handedness: a voxel based morphometric study of 465 normal adults
Authors:
Good, C.D., JOHNSRUDE, I.S., Ashburner, J., Henson, R.N.A., Friston, K.J. & Frackowiak, R.S.J.
Reference:
NeuroImage, 14 (1) 21-36
Year of publication:
2001
CBU number:
4139
Abstract:
We used an optimised method of voxel based morphometry (VBM) to examine human brain asymmetry and the effects of sex and handedness on brain structure in 465 normal adults. We observed significant cerebral asymmetry, including increased grey matter in the left occipital, right frontal and temporal lobes (petalia), left posterior Heschl's gyrus and anterior planum temporale (PT) (rephrase this to be more anatomically correct) and left mesial temporal lobe, including hippocampal formation. There was a significant interaction with sex, with increased leftward asymmetry at the posterior root of Heschl's gyrus in males, but no significant interaction with handedness. There was a significant main effect of sex, even after accounting for the larger global volumes of grey and white matter in males. Females have increased grey matter volume adjacent to the superior temporal and intraparietal sulci bilaterally, in right Heschl's gyrus and PT, right inferior frontal gyrus, cingulate gyrus and right fronto marginal gyrus. Males have increased grey matter volume bilaterally in mesial temporal lobes, entorhinal and perirhinal cortex and superior cerebellum.
