Fisher Alessandra Daphne, Ristori Jiska, Castellini Giovanni, Cocchetti Carlotta, Cassioli Emanuele, Orsolini Stefano, Sensi Carolina, Romani Alessia, Mazzoli Francesca, Cipriani Agnese, Ricca Valdo, Vignozzi Linda, Viggiano Maria Pia, Mascalchi Mario, Maggi Mario, Gavazzi Gioele
Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Careggi University Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy.
Mario Serio" Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy.
J Clin Med. 2020 Jun 3;9(6):1731. doi: 10.3390/jcm9061731.
To date, MRI studies focused on brain sexual dimorphism have not explored the presence of specific neural patterns in gender dysphoria (GD) using gender discrimination tasks. Considering the central role of body image in GD, the present study aims to evaluate brain activation patterns with 3T-scanner functional MRI (fMRI) during gender face discrimination task in a sample of 20 hormone-naïve transgender and 20 cisgender individuals. Additionally, participants were asked to complete psychometric measures. The between-group analysis of average blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) activations of female vs. male face contrast showed a significant positive cluster in the bilateral precuneus in transmen when compared to the ciswomen. In addition. the transwomen group compared to the cismen showed higher activations also in the precuneus, as well as in the posterior cingulate gyrus, the angular gyrus and the lateral occipital cortices. Moreover, the activation of precuneus, angular gyrus, lateral occipital cortices and posterior cingulate gyrus was significantly associated with higher levels of body uneasiness. These results show for the first time the existence of a possible specific GD-neural pattern. However, it remains unclear if the differences in brain phenotype of transgender people may be the result of a sex-atypical neural development or of a lifelong experience of gender non-conformity.
迄今为止，专注于大脑性别差异的MRI研究尚未使用性别歧视任务来探究性别焦虑（GD）中特定神经模式的存在。考虑到身体形象在GD中的核心作用，本研究旨在通过3T扫描仪功能磁共振成像（fMRI）评估20名未接受激素治疗的 transgender者和20名顺性别者在性别面部识别任务期间的大脑激活模式。此外，要求参与者完成心理测量指标。对女性与男性面部对比的平均血氧水平依赖（BOLD）激活进行组间分析，结果显示，与顺性别女性相比，trans男性双侧楔前叶有一个显著的正簇。此外，与顺性别男性相比，trans女性组在楔前叶以及后扣带回、角回和枕外侧皮质也表现出更高的激活。此外，楔前叶、角回、枕外侧皮质和后扣带回的激活与更高水平的身体不适感显著相关。这些结果首次表明可能存在特定的GD神经模式。然而，尚不清楚transgender者大脑表型的差异是性非典型神经发育的结果，还是终身性别不认同经历的结果。
