Sex differences in the temporal lobe white matter and the corpus callosum: a diffusion tensor tractography study.
We assessed sex differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusion (MD) of temporal lobe white matter (TLWMFA, TLWMMD), TLWM asymmetry, and the relationship between TLWM asymmetry and FA and MD of the corpus callosum (CCFA, CCMD) using diffusion tensor tractography. We found sex differences in the MD of both inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF); however, it disappeared after statistical adjustments for intracranial volume and CCMD variability. FA of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLFFA) and FA and MD of the ILF (ILFFA, ILFMD) showed leftward asymmetry. In females, the asymmetry indices of SLFFA and the MD of the SLF were significantly correlated with CCFA and CCMD, respectively, which may be related to sex differences in the hemispheric specialization for language.
Choi
Chi-Hoon
CH
Department of Radiology, National Medical Center, Hanyang University, Korea.
Lee
Jong-Min
JM
Koo
Bang-Bon
BB
Park
Jun Sung
JS
Kim
Dae-Shik
DS
Kwon
Jun Soo
JS
Kim
In Young
IY
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016880:Anisotropy; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055815:Young Adult