Sex differences in semantic language processing: A functional MRI study

• Published in: Brain and language Vol. 84; no. 2; pp. 264 - 272
• Main Authors: Baxter, L.C., Saykin, A.J., Flashman, L.A., Johnson, S.C., Guerin, S.J., Babcock, D.R., Wishart, H.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.02.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anatomical correlates of behavior; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - anatomy & histology; Cerebral Cortex - anatomy & histology; Female; Functional Laterality - physiology; Functional MRI; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gyrus Cinguli - anatomy & histology; Humans; Language; Lateralization; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Semantic memory; Semantics; Sex differences; Sex Factors; Temporal Lobe - anatomy & histology; Sex differences; Semantic memory; Functional MRI; Language; Lateralization; Human; Hemispheric specialization; Central nervous system; Sex; Cognition; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Laterality; Brain (vertebrata); Functional imaging
• ISSN: 0093-934X; 1090-2155
• DOI: 10.1016/S0093-934X(02)00549-7

Predictions based on two models of sex differences in cerebral organization of language were compared by examining fMRI patterns of 10 females and 9 males during a semantic processing task. Both groups displayed activation of left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), left superior temporal gyrus (STG), and cingulate. Females, but not males, showed bilateral IFG and STG activation. Further analyses revealed females had less diffuse left activation and greater right posterior temporal and insula region activation than males. Results support both an interhemispheric and an intrahemispheric model of sex differences in language, suggesting that the models may not be mutually exclusive.