Sex Differences in the Brain From Genes to Behavior

by Becker, Jill B.; Berkley, Karen J.; Geary, Nori; Hampson, Elizabeth; Herman, James P.; Young, Elizabeth

• ISBN13: 9780195311587
• ISBN10: 0195311582
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-12-04
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Sex is a fundamentally important biological variable. Recent years have seen significant progress in the integration of sex in many aspects of basic and clinical research, including analyses of sex differences in brain function. Significant advances in the technology available for studying the endocrine and nervous systems are now coupled with a more sophisticated awareness of the interconnections of these two communication systems of the body. A thorough understanding of the current knowledge, conceptual approaches, methodological capabilities, and challenges is a prerequisite to continued progress in research and therapeutics in this interdisciplinary area. Sex Differences in the Brain provides scientists with the basic tools for investigating sex differences in brain and behavior and insight into areas where important progress in understanding physiologically relevant sex differences has already been made. The book is arranged in three parts. The first part of the book introduces the study of sex differences in the brain, with an overview of how the brain, stress systems, and pharmacogenomics differ in males and females and how this information is important for the study of behavior and neurobiology of both genders. The second part presents examples of sex differences in neurobiology and behavior from both basic and clinical research perspectives, covering both humans and nonhuman animals. The final part discusses sex differences in the neurobiology of disease and neurological disorders. For interested individuals as well as those who are considering conducting research at the intersections of endocrinology, neuroscience, and other areas of biomedicine, the study of sex differences offers exciting and challenging questions and perspectives. This book is intended as a guide and resource for clinicians, scientists, and students.

Table of Contents

Strategies, Methods, and Background
Why Are There Two Sexes?	p. 3
Sex Differences in the Brain: What's Old and What's New	p. 15
Research and Methodological Issues in the Study of Sex Differences and Hormone-Behavior Relations	p. 35
Methodological Issues in the Study of Hormone-Behavior Relations in Humans: Understanding and Monitoring the Menstrual Cycle	p. 63
Sex Differences in Pharmacogenomics as a Tool to Study CNS Disorders	p. 79
Sex Differences in HPA Axis Regulation	p. 95
Sex Differences in Neurobiology and Behavior
Steroid Hormone Receptors and Sex Differences in Behavior	p. 109
Sex Differences in Affiliative Behavior and Social Bonding	p. 139
Sex Differences in the Organization of Movement	p. 155
Sex Differences in Motivation	p. 177
Sex Differences in Neuroplasticity	p. 201
Sex Differences in Cognitive Function in Rodents	p. 227
Sex Differences in Energy Metabolism, Obesity, and Eating Behavior	p. 253
Sex Differences in Children's Play	p. 275
Sex Differences in the Neurocognition of Language	p. 291
Endocrine Contributions to Sex Differences in Visuospatial Perception and Cognition	p. 311
Sex Differences in the Neurobiology of Disease
Sex Differences in Infectious and Autoimmune Diseases	p. 329
Sex Differences in Neuroimmunology	p. 355
Sex Differences in Pain	p. 371
Sex Differences in Anxiety Disorders	p. 397
Hormones and Mood	p. 405
Sex Differences in Brain Aging and Alzheimer's Disorders	p. 427
Sex Differences in Parkinson's Disease	p. 455
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.