Social and Object Attention Is Influenced by Biological Sex and Toy Gender‐Congruence in Children With and Without Autism

Gender identities that differ from biological sex (non-cisgender identities) appear to be more common in autism and neurodiversity. The study found that part of the non-cisgender identities could be related to having behavioral preferences of the opposite sex, but this failed to explain the higher prevalence in neurodiversity. Non-cisgender identities in neurodiversity could better be explained by having neurodiverse relationship preferences or lacking typical relationship preferences. Being part of the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bi Transgender) community biased answers to questions about gender identity. Neurodiverse non-cisgender people, just like neurodiverse asexual people, might be better off with new communities that focus on the more relevant relationship preference differences rather than on narrow and indirect gender and sexual issues.

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The traditional sexual script and humor in courtship

Humor - International Journal of Humor Research ◽

10.1515/humor-2019-0017 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 197-218

Author(s):

Elaina M. Ross ◽

Jeffrey A. Hall

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Gender Roles ◽

Cultural Influences ◽

Past Research ◽

Ambivalent Sexism ◽

Hostile Sexism ◽

Sexual Script ◽

Biological Sex ◽

Sex Influence ◽

Potential Partner

AbstractTo account for sex differences in the production, receptivity, and preference for humor in potential mates during courtship, past research has often adopted an evolutionary approach. The present manuscript will attempt to integrate evolutionary explanations with proximal social and cultural influences using the traditional sexual script and ambivalent sexism theory. The results of both Study 1 (N=227) and Study 2 (N=424) suggest that trait masculinity is positively associated with humor production in courtship, while trait femininity is associated with humor receptivity. Study 1 indicated that the traditional flirting style was associated with less humor production by women, and Study 2 indicated that hostile sexism was related to a lower preference for a humor-producing potential partner by men. A sex difference in humor production in potential partners in Study 2 was no longer detectable once trait gender and hostile sexism was accounted for. Taken together, gender roles, over and above biological sex, influence one’s own humor use in courtship and preference for humor in potential partners.

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Differential Cognitive Performance in Females and Males with Regular Cannabis Use

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s1355617721000606 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 570-580

Author(s):

Ashley M. Schnakenberg Martin ◽

Deepak Cyril D’Souza ◽

Sharlene D. Newman ◽

William P. Hetrick ◽

Brian F. O’Donnell

Keyword(s):

Digit Span ◽

Verbal Learning ◽

Verbal Working Memory ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Neurocognitive Deficits ◽

Psychomotor Speed ◽

High Concentration ◽

Cognitive Measures ◽

Biological Sex ◽

Learning Test

AbstractObjectives:Preclinical and clinical studies suggest that males and females may be differentially affected by cannabis use. This study evaluated the interaction of cannabis use and biological sex on cognition, and the association between observed cognitive deficits and features of cannabis use.Methods:Cognitive measures were assessed in those with regular, ongoing, cannabis use (N = 40; 22 female) and non-using peers (N = 40; 23 female). Intelligence, psychomotor speed, and verbal working memory were measured with the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, Digit Symbol Test, and Digit Span and Hopkins Verbal Learning Test, respectively. Associations between cognitive measures and cannabis use features (e.g., lifetime cannabis use, age of initiation, time since last use of cannabis, recent high-concentration tetrahydrocannabinoid exposure) were also evaluated.Results:No main effects of group were observed across measures. Significant interactions between group and biological sex were observed on measures of intelligence, psychomotor speed, and verbal learning, with greatest group differences observed between males with and without regular cannabis use. Psychomotor performance was negatively correlated with lifetime cannabis exposure. Female and male cannabis use groups did not differ in features of cannabis use.Conclusions:Findings suggest that biological sex influences the relationship between cannabis and cognition, with males potentially being more vulnerable to the neurocognitive deficits related to cannabis use.

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Sex Differences in the Association between Internet Usage and Overweight/Obesity: Evidence from a Nationally Representative Survey in Nepal

Sexes ◽

10.3390/sexes2010011 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 132-143

Author(s):

Juwel Rana ◽

Md. Momin Islam ◽

John Oldroyd ◽

Nandeeta Samad ◽

Rakibul Islam

Keyword(s):

Odds Ratio ◽

Regression Models ◽

Internet Use ◽

Adjusted Odds Ratio ◽

Internet Usage ◽

The Internet ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Biological Sex ◽

Obesity Interventions ◽

Nationally Representative

Objective: To examine the associations between internet use and overweight/obesity in people aged 15–49 years in Nepal and the extent to which these associations differ by biological sex. Materials and methods: The study analyzed the nationally representative Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2016 data. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the total effects of internet use (IU) in the last 12 months and frequency of internet use (FIU) in the last month on overweight/obesity adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Of the 10,380 participants, the prevalence of overweight/obesity by IU was 38% (95% confidence interval (CI): 35.9%, 40.1%) for males and 44.1% (95% CI: 41.6%, 46.6%) for female. The likelihood of overweight/obesity was significantly higher (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.55; 95% CI: 1.40, 1.73; p < 0.001) among those participants who used the internet compared to the participants who did not use the internet in the last 12 months. Similar associations were observed when using the augmented measure of exposure-FIU in the last month. We observed the modification effect of sex in the associations of IU (p-difference < 0.001) and FIU (p-difference < 0.002) with overweight/obesity in Nepal. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that future overweight/obesity interventions in Nepal discourage unnecessary internet use, particularly among males.

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Biological sex classification with structural MRI data shows increased misclassification in transgender women

Neuropsychopharmacology ◽

10.1038/s41386-020-0666-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 45 (10) ◽

pp. 1758-1765

Author(s):

Claas Flint ◽

Katharina Förster ◽

Sophie A. Koser ◽

Carsten Konrad ◽

Pienie Zwitserlood ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Structural Mri ◽

Transgender Women ◽

Biological Sex

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Sex Differences in the Reward-Enhancing Effects of Nicotine on Ethanol Reinforcement: A Reinforcer Demand Analysis

Nicotine & Tobacco Research ◽

10.1093/ntr/ntz056 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 238-247 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Scott T Barrett ◽

Brady M Thompson ◽

Jessica R Emory ◽

Chris E Larsen ◽

Steven T Pittenger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Abuse ◽

Ethanol Solution ◽

Female Rats ◽

Demand Model ◽

Self Administration ◽

Biological Sex ◽

Ethanol Reinforcement ◽

Nicotine Abuse ◽

Reinforcer Demand ◽

Reinforcement Value

Abstract Background Alcohol is often consumed with tobacco, and dependence to alcohol and tobacco are highly comorbid. In addition, there are differences in the prevalence of nicotine- and alcohol-abuse between the sexes. Nicotine produces enhancing effects on the value of other reinforcers, which may extend to alcohol. Methods Male and female Wistar rats were trained to self-administer 15% ethanol solution in 30-minute sessions. Once ethanol self-administration was established, demand for ethanol was evaluated using an exponential reinforcer demand method, in which the response cost per reinforcer delivery was systematically increased over blocks of several sessions. Within each cost condition, rats were preinjected with nicotine (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, or 0.4 mg/kg base, SC) or saline 5 minutes before self-administration sessions. The effects of nicotine dose and biological sex were evaluated using the estimates generated by the reinforcer demand model. Results Under saline conditions, males showed greater sensitivity to ethanol reinforcement than females. Nicotine enhanced the reinforcement value of alcohol and this varied with sex. In both sexes, 0.4 mg/kg nicotine decreased intensity of ethanol demand. However, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 mg/kg nicotine decreased elasticity of ethanol demand in females, but not in males. Conclusions Nicotine enhances ethanol reinforcement, which may partially drive comorbidity between nicotine-abuse and alcohol-abuse. Males showed signs of greater ethanol reinforcement value than females under saline conditions, and nicotine attenuated this effect by increasing ethanol reinforcement value in the females. These findings highlight that a complete understanding of alcohol-abuse must include a thorough study of alcohol use in the context of other drug use, including nicotine. Implications Nicotine dose dependently enhances the alcohol reinforcement value in a manner that is clearly influenced by biological sex. Under saline baseline conditions, males show lower elasticity of demand for alcohol reinforcement than females, indicative of greater reinforcement value. However, nicotine attenuated this difference by enhancing alcohol reward in the females. Specifically, low-to-moderate doses (0.05–0.2 mg/kg) of nicotine decreased elasticity of alcohol demand in female rats, increasing the perseverance of their alcohol taking behavior. These data indicate that the well-documented reward-enhancing effects of nicotine on sensory reinforcement extend to alcohol reinforcement and that these vary with biological sex.

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Sex Differences in Circadian Clock Genes and Myocardial Infarction Susceptibility

Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease ◽

10.3390/jcdd8050053 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 53

Author(s):

Ivana Škrlec ◽

Jasminka Talapko ◽

Martina Juzbašić ◽

Robert Steiner

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Circadian Rhythm ◽

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Clock Genes ◽

P Value ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Single Nucleotide ◽

Biological Sex ◽

Significant Difference

The growing body of evidence shows a significant difference in the circadian rhythm of cardiovascular disease based on biological sex. The incidence of cardiovascular disease varies between women and men. Additionally, biological sex is vital for the timely application of therapy—chronotherapy, which benefits both sexes. This study aimed to examine the potential difference of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the circadian rhythm genes ARNTL, CLOCK, CRY2 and PER2 in women and men with myocardial infarction. A cross-sectional study was conducted, including 200 patients with myocardial infarction. Altogether, ten single nucleotide polymorphisms in the ARNTL, CLOCK, CRY2 and PER2 genes were analyzed. The Chi-square test yielded statistically significant differences in CLOCK gene rs11932595 polymorphism in a recessive genotype model between women and men with a p-value of 0.03 and an odds ratio 2.66, and a corresponding 95% confidence interval of 1.07 to 6.66. Other analyzed polymorphisms of the circadian rhythm genes ARNTL, CRY2, and PER2 did not significantly differ between the sexes. According to the study’s current results, the CLOCK gene’s genetic variability might affect myocardial infarction concerning biological sex.

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