Citation

Bava S, Boucquey V, Goldenberg D, Thayer RE, Ward M, Jacobus J, Tapert SF. Brain Res. 2011; 1375: 41-48.

Affiliation

VA San Diego Healthcare System, Psychology Service (116B), 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92126, USA; University of California, San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, 9500 Gilman Drive (0603), La Jolla, CA 92093-0603, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, International Brain Research Organization, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.brainres.2010.12.051

PMID

21172320

PMCID

PMC3035918

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sex-specific trajectories in white matter development during adolescence may help explain cognitive and behavioral divergences between males and females. Knowledge of sex differences in typically developing adolescents can provide a basis for interpreting sexual dimorphisms in abilities and actions. METHOD: We examined 58 healthy adolescents (12-14years of age) with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Diffusion parameters fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean (MD), radial (RD), and axial diffusivities (AD) were subjected to whole-brain voxel-wise group comparisons using tract-based spatial statistics. Sex differences in white matter microstructure were examined in relation to pubertal development. RESULTS: Early adolescent females (n=29) evidenced higher FA in the right superior corona radiata, higher FA and AD in bilateral corticospinal tracts (≥164μl, p<.01), and lower MD in the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF) and left forceps major (≥164μl, p<.01) than age-matched males (n=29). Males did not show any areas of higher FA or lower MD than females, but had higher AD in the right superior longitudinal fasciculus, ILF, and forceps minor (≥ 164μl, p<.01). Pubertal stage did not account for sex disparities. CONCLUSION: In early adolescence, females' motor tracts may reflect widespread changes, while males may undergo relatively more microstructural change in projection and association fibers.

Language: en