About this Research Topic
Human sex might be defined in two ways: biological sex differences commonly distinguished as sex, and socially and culturally created sex differences commonly designated as gender. This Research Topic will investigate whether factors associated with sex and/or gender are regulated independently by different brain regions.
The human brain can be divided roughly into two systems according to their functional roles. The first is the hypothalamus–limbic system, which maintains and regulates (1) homeostasis of various body functions such as the endocrine system, autonomic nervous system, body temperature, and biological clock, (2) vital activities of the individual such as instinctive and emotional formation and expression of instinctive and emotional behaviors, and (3) reproductive functions. These functions have biological sex differences, whether small or large, which are particularly prominent in rodents. The causes of these sex differences are related to the sexual differentiation of the neuronal nuclei responsible for individual functions, and to sex differences in the secretion of sex steroid hormones from the gonads.
The second system includes other regions rich in plasticity during development and/or maturation. These consist of (1) the sensory cortex, which processes sensory information, (2) the motor cortex, which expresses conscious muscle movement, and (3) the association cortex, where creative action is exerted. The hippocampus is conventionally counted among the limbic regions, but we include this area in the sense that it is highly plastic and is involved in higher-order functions such as memory. Importantly, the functions controlled by these brain regions which exhibit plasticity might be fundamentally sex-neutral. The functions might thereby show sex differences, if any, in visual–spatial cognitive functions, language functions, mathematical abilities, and others as they mature because of enculturation. In other words, they are altered by changes in social and cultural circumstances.
Does the former domain, the hypothalamus–limbic system, regulate sex? Does the second system, the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, manifest gender? A diversity of stages, degrees, and categories of sexuality exist. This collection aims to elucidate whether this diversity is driven by the brain and if so, where is the responsible site? This topic provides opportunities to evaluate numerous hypotheses and the results can elucidate aspects of different sex and gender in the face of neurobiology. We welcome review articles, original papers, and other materials related to the subject of sex differences in sexual behavior, including LGBTQ-related sexual identity and sexual orientation. We also welcome any study of animal models that might inform our understanding of the sexual diversity of the human brain, such as studies of sex differences in brain structures and functions and studies of the mechanisms responsible for sexual differentiation of the brain.
We welcome reviews, mini reviews, perspectives, and original research articles addressing these questions above across diverse fields, including but not limited to the following.
• Sex differences in hormone release and receptor expression during different circumstances in the LGBTQ brain
• Sexually dimorphic responses and morphology of the LGBTQ brain
• Sex-dependent molecular and cellular mechanisms in the endocrine control of sex and gender
• Epigenetic changes related to sexual and gender diversity in the brain
• Sex differences in the brain of animal models can facilitate understanding of sex and/or gender in humans.
• Mechanisms of brain sexual differentiation in animal models provide insight into the sexual diversity of the human brain.
The human brain can be divided roughly into two systems according to their functional roles. The first is the hypothalamus–limbic system, which maintains and regulates (1) homeostasis of various body functions such as the endocrine system, autonomic nervous system, body temperature, and biological clock, (2) vital activities of the individual such as instinctive and emotional formation and expression of instinctive and emotional behaviors, and (3) reproductive functions. These functions have biological sex differences, whether small or large, which are particularly prominent in rodents. The causes of these sex differences are related to the sexual differentiation of the neuronal nuclei responsible for individual functions, and to sex differences in the secretion of sex steroid hormones from the gonads.
The second system includes other regions rich in plasticity during development and/or maturation. These consist of (1) the sensory cortex, which processes sensory information, (2) the motor cortex, which expresses conscious muscle movement, and (3) the association cortex, where creative action is exerted. The hippocampus is conventionally counted among the limbic regions, but we include this area in the sense that it is highly plastic and is involved in higher-order functions such as memory. Importantly, the functions controlled by these brain regions which exhibit plasticity might be fundamentally sex-neutral. The functions might thereby show sex differences, if any, in visual–spatial cognitive functions, language functions, mathematical abilities, and others as they mature because of enculturation. In other words, they are altered by changes in social and cultural circumstances.
Does the former domain, the hypothalamus–limbic system, regulate sex? Does the second system, the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, manifest gender? A diversity of stages, degrees, and categories of sexuality exist. This collection aims to elucidate whether this diversity is driven by the brain and if so, where is the responsible site? This topic provides opportunities to evaluate numerous hypotheses and the results can elucidate aspects of different sex and gender in the face of neurobiology. We welcome review articles, original papers, and other materials related to the subject of sex differences in sexual behavior, including LGBTQ-related sexual identity and sexual orientation. We also welcome any study of animal models that might inform our understanding of the sexual diversity of the human brain, such as studies of sex differences in brain structures and functions and studies of the mechanisms responsible for sexual differentiation of the brain.
We welcome reviews, mini reviews, perspectives, and original research articles addressing these questions above across diverse fields, including but not limited to the following.
• Sex differences in hormone release and receptor expression during different circumstances in the LGBTQ brain
• Sexually dimorphic responses and morphology of the LGBTQ brain
• Sex-dependent molecular and cellular mechanisms in the endocrine control of sex and gender
• Epigenetic changes related to sexual and gender diversity in the brain
• Sex differences in the brain of animal models can facilitate understanding of sex and/or gender in humans.
• Mechanisms of brain sexual differentiation in animal models provide insight into the sexual diversity of the human brain.
Keywords: Behaviour, Brain, Diversity, Neurobiology, Sex
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