Sex and brain: morfological and functional differences between women and men

Abstract

In recent years, interest in the effects of gender or sex on brain morphology has rapidly increased. Structural and functional imaging studies offer us important though preliminary results. In this review, we will first comment on research dealing with neurodevelopmental differences and the influence hormones appear to have on them. We will further review studies on sex differences in the healthy brain (anatomical, functional and in neurotransmission). Finally, we will summarize the literature on brain sex differences in patients with schizophrenia and depression.