title: Sex Differences in Neuroanatomy of the Human Mirror Neuron System: Impact on Functional Recovery of Ischemic Hemiparetic Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Considering the higher activity of mirror neuron system in females, they frequently have better performance in empathy, interpersonal sensitivity, and emotional recognition compared to males.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess whether gender difference in neuroanatomy of the human mirror neuron system has any impact on functional recovery of ischemic hemiparetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This single-blind clinical trial was conducted on 24 patients with cerebrovascular accident (CVA) in the age range of 45 - 60 years, referring at a rehabilitation center in Tehran, Iran, during 2013 - 2014. Sampling method was stratified random sampling. The subjects were assigned to 2 groups of 12 males and 12 females. Then, each group was randomly divided into 2 groups (totally 4 groups, n = 6 for each group): women watching functional movies, control women, men watching functional movies, and control men. Movies were shown to patients and then, they were evaluated by Timed Up and Go (TUG), Six-minute walk test (SMW), Barthel index (BI), and Berg balance scale (BBS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparison of all variables related to functional activities of all groups before and after watching movies revealed significant differences. The highest percentage of change and improvement was observed in groups 1 and 3 watching the functional movies (P = 0.0001). Percentage of improvement in women of groups 1 and 2 was higher than men in groups 3 and 4 (P = 0.0003). The changes in group of females watching the functional movies (group 1) were significantly greater than in other groups (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Sex differences in the neuroanatomy of the human mirror neuron system affect functional recovery of patients with hemiparesis. The improvement in studied women was found to be significantly greater than studied men. The results indicate a higher chance of recovery among hemiparetic women, especially those watching functional movies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Monireh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motaqhey
authors.affiliation: Health Management Research Centre, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghanjal
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mastri Farahani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mojdeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghabaee
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Centre, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Gholamreza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noroziyan
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fadaee Fathabadi
keywords: Mirror Neurons; Neuroanatomy; Recovery of Function; Sex Characteristics