Differential brainstem connectivity according to sex and menopausal status in healthy male and female individuals
Healthy females show higher brainstem-network connectivity involved in cognitive control, sensorimotor function, and self-relevant processes than males, dependent on their menopausal status. Further, 2-hydroxyestrone, implicated in pain, may modulate PAG connectivity in premenopausal females. These findings may relate to differential vulnerabilities to chronic stress-sensitive disorders at different life stages.
Authors
- Erik Mayer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5509-4580)
- Bruce D. Naliboff (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0959-8670)
- Arpana Church
- David Meriwether (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6270-5645)
- Jessica Sohn
- Lisa A. Kilpatrick (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2148-5214)
- Tien S. Dong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0105-8063)
- Jonathan P. Jacobs (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4698-0254)
- Vince W Li
- Jennifer S. Labus (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6634-2551)
- Lin Chang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8102-9213)
- Swapna Mahurkar‐Joshi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9591-4590)
- Juliana Reist
Institutions
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Biology of Sex Differences
- Published
- 2025-04-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s13293-025-00709-4
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.43
Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- University of California, Los Angeles
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases