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> “These models worked really well because we successfully separated brain patterns between sexes,” Menon said. “That tells me that overlooking sex differences
by ashleyn 3y ago
> “These models worked really well because we successfully separated brain patterns between sexes,” Menon said. “That tells me that overlooking sex differences in brain organization could lead us to miss key factors underlying neuropsychiatric disorders.”
Although never demonstrated, it's always been most intuitive to me that sex-related brain differences underlie gender dysphoria. I would feel exceptionally relieved and vindicated to finally have some objective, falsifiable observation to point at that suggests the reality of dysphoria.
- Spivak 3y agoI love that idea! Honestly even if it doesn't show up as a sex-difference doing this same trick might be nonetheless fruitful by asking it to predict say cis woman / trans man.
- at_a_remove 3y agoAh, but this is science. How would you feel if it were not vindicated? What if it were not a matter of "born that way"? Plus, there's a whole ton of confounding business we'll have to look out for. Just off the top of my head, you've got certainty intervals. And wouldn't it be prudent to at least examine the effects of various hormones like testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estradiol, progesterone on the brain? Say, post age twenty five, pre age twenty five. And so on. Might exist, might not. We're a long way from being able to have much certainty at all.
- spondylosaurus 3y agoI would be shocked if hormones didn't have some effect on the brain considering how much of an effect they have everywhere else. Hell, I know some people who take the "brain sex" angle re. transness speculate that varying levels of hormonal exposure in utero could be what causes gender dysphoria post-utero... in which case, would adult endogenous hormones be responsible for brain structures, or would brain structure dictate which kind of hormones your body expects?
- at_a_remove 3y agoI think, in utero, the effects would be strong and likely visible, but through childhood, puberty, and then young adulthood, I would expect diminishing degrees of impact. Certainly, I've read case studies of various pre-natal exposures to particular chemicals having large and unmistakable impacts on sexual orientation. It's of especial interest to me as one of the very last DES babies. Brain structure, as in the gross features visible on imaging, would probably not dictate what kinds of hormones you body might expect. I think that sort of thing would occur at a much lower level, right on the receptors of the tissues, and would not be visible.
- Spivak 3y agoI think it would be the same as right now, absence of evidence and all that. Would still be short one explanation explaining the observed phenomenon. You're absolutely right that it wouldn't be proof in any sense, just a sign that the avenue would be worth pursuing.