scholarly journals Predicting Empathy from Resting Brain Connectivity

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Christov-Moore ◽  
Nicco Reggente ◽  
Pamela K. Douglas ◽  
Jamie D. Feusner ◽  
Marco Iacoboni
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Visual System ◽  
Brain Connectivity ◽  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Task Demands ◽  
Empathic Concern ◽  
Control Networks ◽  
Biological Sex ◽  
Network Properties ◽  
And Control

AbstractRecent studies suggest that individual differences in empathic concern may be mediated by continuous interactions between self-other resonance and cognitive control networks. To test this hypothesis, we used machine learning to examine whether resting fMRI connectivity (i.e. the degree of synchronous BOLD activity across multiple cortical areas in the absence of task demands) of resonance and control networks could predict trait empathy (n=58). Indeed, resonance and control networks’ interconnectivity predicted empathic concern. Empathic concern was also predicted by connectivity within the somatomotor network. In light of numerous reported sex differences in empathy, we controlled for biological sex and also studied separately what aspect of these features could predict participants’ sex. Sex was best predicted by the interconnectivity of the visual system with the resonance, somatomotor, and cingulo-opercular network, as well as the somatomotor-control network connectivity. These findings confirm that variation in empathic responses to others reflects characteristic network properties detectable regardless of task demands. Furthermore, network properties of the visual system may be a locus of sex differences previously unaccounted for in empathy research. Finally, these findings suggest that it may be possible to assess empathic predispositions in individuals without needing to perform conventional empathy assessments.

scholarly journals Sex Differences in Functional Connectivity Between Resting State Brain Networks in Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vânia Tavares ◽  
Luís Afonso Fernandes ◽  
Marília Antunes ◽  
Hugo Ferreira ◽  
Diana Prata
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Brain Connectivity ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Control Networks ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Female Specific ◽  
Main Effects

AbstractFunctional brain connectivity (FBC) has previously been examined in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) between-resting-state networks (RSNs) using a highly sensitive and reproducible hypothesis-free approach. However, results have been inconsistent and sex differences have only recently been taken into consideration using this approach. We estimated main effects of diagnosis and sex and a diagnosis by sex interaction on between-RSNs FBC in 83 ASD (40 females/43 males) and 85 typically developing controls (TC; 43 females/42 males). We found increased connectivity between the default mode (DM) and (a) the executive control networks in ASD (vs. TC); (b) the cerebellum networks in males (vs. females); and (c) female-specific altered connectivity involving visual, language and basal ganglia (BG) networks in ASD—in suggestive compatibility with ASD cognitive and neuroscientific theories.

scholarly journals Analysis and Classification of Word Co-Occurrence Networks From Alzheimer’s Patients and Controls

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tristan Millington ◽  
Saturnino Luz
Keyword(s):  
Word Frequency ◽  
Mean Squared Error ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Edge Density ◽  
Network Embedding ◽  
Embedding Method ◽  
Control Networks ◽  
Network Measures ◽  
Network Properties ◽  
And Control

In this paper we construct word co-occurrence networks from transcript data of controls and patients with potential Alzheimer’s disease using the ADReSS challenge dataset of spontaneous speech. We examine measures of the structure of these networks for significant differences, finding that networks from Alzheimer’s patients have a lower heterogeneity and centralization, but a higher edge density. We then use these measures, a network embedding method and some measures from the word frequency distribution to classify the transcripts into control or Alzheimer’s, and to estimate the cognitive test score of a participant based on the transcript. We find it is possible to distinguish between the AD and control networks on structure alone, achieving 66.7% accuracy on the test set, and to predict cognitive scores with a root mean squared error of 5.675. Using the network measures is more successful than using the network embedding method. However, if the networks are shuffled we find relatively few of the measures are different, indicating that word frequency drives many of the network properties. This observation is borne out by the classification experiments, where word frequency measures perform similarly to the network measures.

scholarly journals Sex differences in brain correlates of STEM anxiety

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariel A. Gonzalez ◽  
Katherine L. Bottenhorn ◽  
Jessica E. Bartley ◽  
Timothy Hayes ◽  
Michael C. Riedel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Math Anxiety ◽  
Brain Connectivity ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Stem Learning ◽  
Default Mode

Abstract Anxiety is known to dysregulate the salience, default mode, and central executive networks of the human brain, yet this phenomenon has not been fully explored across the STEM learning experience, where anxiety can impact negatively academic performance. Here, we evaluated anxiety and large-scale brain connectivity in 101 undergraduate physics students. We found sex differences in STEM-related and clinical anxiety, with longitudinal increases in science anxiety observed for both female and male students. Sex-specific relationships between STEM anxiety and brain connectivity emerged, with male students exhibiting distinct inter-network connectivity for STEM and clinical anxiety, and female students demonstrating no significant within-sex correlations. Anxiety was negatively correlated with academic performance in sex-specific ways at both pre- and post-instruction. Moreover, math anxiety in male students mediated the relation between default mode-salience connectivity and course grade. Together, these results reveal complex sex differences in the neural mechanisms driving how anxiety is related to STEM learning.

scholarly journals Sex differences in brain correlates of STEM anxiety

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariel A. Gonzalez ◽  
Katherine L. Bottenhorn ◽  
Jessica E. Bartley ◽  
Timothy Hayes ◽  
Michael C. Riedel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Math Anxiety ◽  
Brain Connectivity ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Stem Learning ◽  
Default Mode

ABSTRACTAnxiety is known to dysregulate the salience, default mode, and central executive networks of the human brain, yet this phenomenon has not been fully explored across the STEM learning experience, where anxiety can impact negatively academic performance. Here, we evaluated anxiety and large-scale brain connectivity in 101 undergraduate physics students. We found sex differences in STEM-related but not clinical anxiety, with longitudinal increases in science anxiety observed for both female and male students. Sex-specific impacts of STEM anxiety on brain connectivity emerged, with male students exhibiting distinct inter-network connectivity for STEM and clinical anxiety and female students demonstrating no significant within-sex correlations. Anxiety was negatively correlated with academic performance in sex-specific ways at both pre-and post-instruction. Moreover, math anxiety in male students mediated the relation between default mode-salience connectivity and course grade. Together, these results reveal complex sex differences in the neural mechanisms driving how anxiety impacts STEM learning.

scholarly journals Widespread attenuating changes in brain connectivity associated with the general factor of psychopathology in 9- and 10-year olds

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandra Sripada ◽  
Mike Angstadt ◽  
Aman Taxali ◽  
Daniel Kessler ◽  
Tristan Greathouse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Brain Connectivity ◽  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Quadrant Analysis ◽  
Default Network ◽  
General Factor ◽  
Multiple Control ◽  
Control Networks ◽  
Large Scale Networks ◽  
P Factor

AbstractConvergent research identifies a general factor (“P factor”) that confers transdiagnostic risk for psychopathology. Large-scale networks are key organizational units of the human brain. However, studies of altered network connectivity patterns associated with the P factor are limited, especially in early adolescence when most mental disorders are first emerging. We studied 11,875 9- and 10-year olds from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, of whom 6593 had high-quality resting-state scans. Network contingency analysis was used to identify altered interconnections associated with the P factor among 16 large-scale networks. These connectivity changes were then further characterized with quadrant analysis that quantified the directionality of P factor effects in relation to neurotypical patterns of positive versus negative connectivity across connections. The results showed that the P factor was associated with altered connectivity across 28 network cells (i.e., sets of connections linking pairs of networks); pPERMUTATION values < 0.05 FDR-corrected for multiple comparisons. Higher P factor scores were associated with hypoconnectivity within default network and hyperconnectivity between default network and multiple control networks. Among connections within these 28 significant cells, the P factor was predominantly associated with “attenuating” effects (67%; pPERMUTATION < 0.0002), i.e., reduced connectivity at neurotypically positive connections and increased connectivity at neurotypically negative connections. These results demonstrate that the general factor of psychopathology produces attenuating changes across multiple networks including default network, involved in spontaneous responses, and control networks involved in cognitive control. Moreover, they clarify mechanisms of transdiagnostic risk for psychopathology and invite further research into developmental causes of distributed attenuated connectivity.

scholarly journals Contributions of sex, depression, and cognition on brain connectivity dynamics in Parkinson’s disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Diez-Cirarda ◽  
Iñigo Gabilondo ◽  
Naroa Ibarretxe-Bilbao ◽  
Juan Carlos Gómez-Esteban ◽  
Jinhee Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Brain Connectivity ◽  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Motor Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Markers ◽  
Neurodegenerative Process ◽  
Temporal Properties ◽  
Dynamic Connectivity

AbstractAlterations in time-varying functional connectivity (FC) have been found in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. To date, very little is known about the influence of sex on brain FC in PD patients and how this could be related to disease severity. The first objective was to evaluate the influence of sex on dynamic FC characteristics in PD patients and healthy controls (HC), while the second aim was to investigate the temporal patterns of dynamic connectivity related to PD motor and non-motor symptoms. Ninety-nine PD patients and sixty-two HC underwent a neuropsychological and clinical assessment. Rs-fMRI and T1-weighted MRI were also acquired. Dynamic FC analyses were performed in the GIFT toolbox. Dynamic FC analyses identified two States: State I, characterized by within-network positive coupling; and State II that showed between-network connectivity, mostly involving somatomotor and visual networks. Sex differences were found in dynamic indexes in HC but these differences were not observed in PD. Hierarchical clustering analysis identified three phenotypically distinct PD subgroups: (1) Subgroup A was characterized by mild motor symptoms; (2) Subgroup B was characterized by depressive and motor symptoms; (3) Subgroup C was characterized by cognitive and motor symptoms. Results revealed that changes in the temporal properties of connectivity were related to the motor/non-motor outcomes of PD severity. Findings suggest that while in HC sex differences may play a certain role in dynamic connectivity patterns, in PD patients, these effects may be overcome by the neurodegenerative process. Changes in the temporal properties of connectivity in PD were mainly related to the clinical markers of PD severity.

scholarly journals Intersubject brain connectivity dynamics encode the stream of affect at multiple timescales

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giada Lettieri ◽  
Giacomo Handjaras ◽  
Emiliano Ricciardi ◽  
Pietro Pietrini ◽  
Luca Cecchetti
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Brain Connectivity ◽  
Multiple Timescales ◽  
Control Networks ◽  
Past Experiences ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Connectivity Strength

AbstractThe stream of affect is the result of a constant interaction between past experiences, motivations, expectations and the unfolding of events. How the brain represents the relationship between time and affect has been hardly explored, as it requires modeling the complexity of everyday life in the laboratory. Movies condense into hours a multitude of emotional responses, synchronized across subjects and characterized by temporal dynamics alike real-world experiences.Here, using naturalistic stimulation, time-varying intersubject brain connectivity and behavioral reports, we demonstrate that connectivity strength of large-scale brain networks tracks changes in affect. The default mode network represents the pleasantness of the experience, whereas attention and control networks encode its intensity. Interestingly, these orthogonal descriptions of affect converge in right temporoparietal and fronto-polar cortex. Within these regions, the stream of affect is represented at multiple timescales by chronotopic maps, where connectivity of adjacent areas preferentially maps experiences in 3- to 11-minute segments.

The Political Socialization of Gender: What Contribution Biology?

1983 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise L. Baer ◽  
David A. Bositis
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Political Socialization ◽  
Scientific Practice ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Personal Construct ◽  
Role Behavior ◽  
Biological Sex ◽  
Biological Variables ◽  
Gender Role Behavior ◽  
And Control

That men and women differ in their degree of access to and control of political power has long been a significant aspect of political life. Political socialization research has tended to locate the origin of these differences exclusively in the learning process—whereby boys and girls are differentially equipped with the skills and interests necessary for participation as adults (Weissberg, 1974; Dawson, Prewitt, and Dawson, 1977) or children internalize norms of appropriate gender role behavior that are then activated during thE! adult years (Sapiro, 1977; Jennings and Niemi, 1981). Gender is undoubtedly a social and personal construct, but it is also based in biological sex differences—genetic, morphological, and physiological. Biological factors are a potential area of investigation that has remained relatively unexplored, in part because many political scientists have been reluctant to borrow as liberally trorn tne life sciences as they have from their sister social sciences (Schubert, 1976). The emerging field of biopolitics might have provided a corrective to what has been called elsewhere the “oversocialized concept of man” (Wrong, 1961). However, the concern of many politically conscious individuals with the issue of sexist scholarship has rendered biological sex differences a suspect category. Arguing that scientific discourse does not take place in a political vacuum, many feminists have concluded that the introduction of biological variables can only be detrimental to women because scientific practice reflects popular prejudices.

The traditional sexual script and humor in courtship

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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