title: Sex differences in electrocortical activity in human neonates.
abstract: Cerebral cortical activity in healthy, full-term human neonates (10 boys and 10 girls) was evaluated using spectral estimation of electroencephalogram frequency content with new equipment and analysis technique allowing the assessment of the lowest frequencies (i.e. infraslow waves). The activity was analysed under quiet sleep and active wakefulness taking sex into consideration. During sleep, the mean amount of infraslow activity was 27% larger in boys, whereas during wakefulness the average amount of higher frequencies was 17% larger in girls. Both these differences indicate an earlier maturation of cortical function in girls than in boys.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden. magnus.thordstein@neuro.gu.se
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thordstein
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Löfgren
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flisberg
authors.forename: Kaj
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lindecrantz
authors.forename: Ingemar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kjellmer
mesh_terms: D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology