Open AccessAllometry in the corpus callosum in neonates: Sexual dimorphism
Author(s) -
Lewis John D.,
Acosta Henriette,
Tuulari Jetro J.,
Fonov Vladimir S.,
Collins D. Louis,
Scheinin Noora M.,
Lehtola Satu J.,
Rosberg Aylin,
Lidauer Kristian,
Ukharova Elena,
Saunavaara Jani,
Parkkola Riitta,
Lähdesmäki Tuire,
Karlsson Linnea,
Karlsson Hasse
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.25977
Subject(s) - allometry , sexual dimorphism , corpus callosum , biology , brain size , sex characteristics , lateralization of brain function , zoology , physiology , anatomy , neuroscience , endocrinology , ecology , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology
The corpus callosum (CC) is the largest fiber tract in the human brain, allowing interhemispheric communication by connecting homologous areas of the two cerebral hemispheres. In adults, CC size shows a robust allometric relationship with brain size, with larger brains having larger callosa, but smaller brains having larger callosa relative to brain size. Such an allometric relationship has been shown in both males and females, with no significant difference between the sexes. But there is some evidence that there are alterations in these allometric relationships during development. However, it is currently not known whether there is sexual dimorphism in these allometric relationships from birth, or if it only develops later. We study this in neonate data. Our results indicate that there are already sex differences in these allometric relationships in neonates: male neonates show the adult‐like allometric relationship between CC size and brain size; however female neonates show a significantly more positive allometry between CC size and brain size than either male neonates or female adults. The underlying cause of this sexual dimorphism is unclear; but the existence of this sexual dimorphism in neonates suggests that sex‐differences in lateralization have prenatal origins.