Project 171291
Gender differences in cerebral laterality
Gender differences in cerebral laterality
Project Information
| Study Type: | Other Mechanistic_Study |
| Therapeutic Area: | Mental_Health |
| Research Theme: | Biomedical |
| Disease Area: | depression, anxiety |
| Data Type: | Canadian |
Institution & Funding
| Principal Investigator(s): | Sullivan, Ronald |
| Institution: | Centre de recherche Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal |
| CIHR Institute: | Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction |
| Program: | |
| Peer Review Committee: | Behavioural Sciences - A: Neurobiological Basis of Behavioural Processes |
| Competition Year: | 2008 |
| Term: | 3 yrs 0 mth |
Abstract Summary
Stress-related psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety are approximately twice as prevalent in women as men, yet the reasons for this discrepancy are not clear. The anatomical and neurochemical systems in the brain which are very important in regulating stress and emotion processing, differ in many ways in males and females. One important difference is the way in which these structures and systems are lateralized (in terms of left/right hemispheric specialization), which can be opposite in the two sexes. This proposal examines these gender differences in brain laterality and attempts to demonstrate how such differences are related to the ability to respond to and cope with stress. By following up on a number of highly relevant findings in rodents, various technical approaches will be employed including behavioural analysis, measures of neurotransmitter levels and release in response to stress and the differential effects of brain lesions in males and females. It is hoped that by better understanding gender differences in how specific brain regions and systems are functionally lateralized, that we may someday be better equipped to treat these devastating disorders with more effective and gender-specific treatments.
Research Characteristics
This project includes the following research characteristics:
Study Justification
"This proposal examines these gender differences in brain laterality and attempts to demonstrate how such differences are related to the ability to respond to and cope with stress."
Novelty Statement
"It is hoped that by better understanding gender differences in how specific brain regions and systems are functionally lateralized, that we may someday be better equipped to treat these devastating disorders with more effective and gender-specific treatments."
Methodology Innovation
examining gender differences in brain laterality and its relation to stress response in rodents using behavioral analysis, neurotransmitter measures, and brain lesions