Sex differences in the development of neuroanatomical functional connectivity underlying intelligence found using Bayesian connectivity analysis.
A Bayesian method for functional connectivity analysis was adapted to investigate between-group differences. This method was applied in a large cohort of almost 300 children to investigate differences in boys and girls in the relationship between intelligence and functional connectivity for the task of narrative comprehension. For boys, a greater association was shown between intelligence and the functional connectivity linking Broca's area to auditory processing areas, including Wernicke's areas and the right posterior superior temporal gyrus. For girls, a greater association was shown between intelligence and the functional connectivity linking the left posterior superior temporal gyrus to Wernicke's areas bilaterally. A developmental effect was also seen, with girls displaying a positive correlation with age in the association between intelligence and the functional connectivity linking the right posterior superior temporal gyrus to Wernicke's areas bilaterally. Our results demonstrate a sexual dimorphism in the relationship of functional connectivity to intelligence in children and an increasing reliance on inter-hemispheric connectivity in girls with age.
Schmithorst
Vincent J
VJ
Pediatric Brain Imaging Research Program, Imaging Research Center, Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA. Vince.Schmithorst@cchmc.org <Vince.Schmithorst@cchmc.org>
Holland
Scott K
SK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D002648:Child; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology*; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D014888:Wechsler Scales