The Male and Female Brain: Molecular Mechanisms of Sex Differences

Although the idea of sexual dimorphism of the brain has existed since antiquity, the molecular mechanisms underlying the impact of sex hormones in the central nervous system are still largely unknown. Males and females may differ at functional, molecular, and structural levels, both in brain physiology and pathology. To further complicate the picture, the female brain and behavior is cyclically remodeled during the phases of menstrual cycle. This renders the female brain differentially vulnerable or resilient to external stimuli (including drug treatments), depending on the physiological changes in estrogen levels. On the other hand, contrary to what was believed until recently, sex hormones also modulate the function and activity of the male brain.

While the mechanisms of sex differences have received attention from researchers only in recent years, interest in this topic is constantly growing.

This Research Topic aims to collect pre-clinical and clinical original studies, as well as long and short reviews, highlighting the molecular mechanisms mediating sex differences in the healthy and pathological brain. Particular preference will be given especially (but not exclusively) to papers focusing on molecular sex differences in:

 -Brain physiology, including neuronal morphology/activity and behavior
 -Epigenetic changes
 -Stress response
 -Pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases
 -Response to pharmacological treatments