Ventral frontal cortex in children: morphology, social cognition and femininity/masculinity.
The ventral frontal cortex (VFC) has been shown to differ morphologically between sexes. Social cognition, which many studies demonstrate involves the VFC, also differs between sexes, with females being more adept than males. In a previous study of subregions of the VFC in our lab, in an adult population, size of the straight gyrus (SG) but not the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), differed between sexes and correlated with better performance on a test of social cognition and with greater identification with feminine characteristics. To investigate the relationship between VFC structure and social cognition in children, VFC gray matter volumes were measured on MRIs from 37 boys and 37 girls aged 7 to 17. The VFC was subdivided into the OFC and SG. Subjects were also administered a test of social perceptiveness and a rating scale of femininity/masculinity. In contrast to our findings in adults, the SG was slightly smaller in girls than boys. In girls, but not boys, smaller SG volumes significantly correlated with better social perception and higher identification with feminine traits. No volume differences by sex or significant correlations were found with the OFC. These data suggest a complex relationship between femininity, social cognition and SG morphology.
Wood
Jessica L
JL
University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Mental Health Clinical Research Center, W278 GH, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. jessica-wood@uiowa.edu
Murko
Vesna
V
Nopoulos
Peg
P
D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012938:Social Perception; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric