We are not the same: Brain differences in emotional processing revealed by fMRI and 1H MRS analysis

<ns3:p>Gender-related differences in emotional reactivity contribute to distinct emotional experiences in men and women. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H MRS) provide valuable insights into the neural and metabolic mechanisms underlying these disparities. The present study aimed to identify gender-specific patterns of brain activation in response to positive and negative emotional stimuli and to evaluate corresponding metabolic changes in the amygdala.A total of 40 healthy participants (21 men and 19 women), aged 18–36 years (mean age: 23 years), underwent two experimental sessions combining fMRI and H MRS. In each session, participants viewed image sets eliciting either positive or negative emotional responses. Functional data were analyzed using Tensorial Independent Component Analysis (TICA), while metabolic data were processed using the SAGE algorithm.Exposure to positive stimuli resulted in stronger activation of occipital visual areas in men, whereas negative stimuli evoked enhanced hippocampal activity in women. Emotional image viewing induced detectable metabolic changes in the amygdala in both groups: negative stimuli increased lactate levels, while positive stimuli elevated choline levels. Additionally, women exhibited a rise in N-acetylaspartate (NAA) concentrations following exposure to negative stimuli.The findings demonstrate gender-specific differences in neural and metabolic responses to emotional stimuli, pointing to distinct engagement of neurotransmitter systems in emotional processing between men and women.</ns3:p>