Sex vs. Gender: What's the Difference?
Scientists have long studied how sex and gender influence the brain, but often treated them as the same. This study separates the two.
Specific brain networks linked to sex assigned at birth were identified, impacting movement, vision, and emotions.
Parent-reported gender behaviors showed broader brain network associations compared to sex.
While parent reports aligned with brain patterns, self-reported gender identity did not. This highlights the subjectivity of gender.
Male children showed greater alignment between sex and gender than females, possibly due to societal pressures.
This study paves the way for understanding how sex and gender influence behavior, health, and mental well-being.
The study uses parent reports on gender, not children's self-identity. More research is needed to address gender fluidity and individual differences.