Brain, Vol. 122, No. 2, 199-208,
February 1999
© 1999 Oxford University Press
Language processing is strongly left lateralized in both sexes
Evidence from functional MRI
1 Departments of Neurology, 2 Cellular Biology and Anatomy and 3 Biophysics Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Correspondence to:
Jeffrey R. Binder, MD, Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA E-mail: jbinder{at}post.its.mcw.edu
Functional MRI (fMRI) was used to examine gender effects on brain activation during a language comprehension task. A large number of subjects (50 women and 50 men) was studied to maximize the statistical power to detect subtle differences between the sexes. To estimate the specificity of findings related to sex differences, parallel analyses were performed on two groups of randomly assigned subjects. Men and women showed very similar, strongly left lateralized activation patterns. Voxel-wise tests for group differences in overall activation patterns demonstrated no significant differences between women and men. In further analyses, group differences were examined by region of interest and by hemisphere. No differences were found between the sexes in lateralization of activity in any region of interest or in intrahemispheric cortical activation patterns. These data argue against substantive differences between men and women in the large-scale neural organization of language processes.
sex differences; language; lateralization; functional MRI
fMRI = functional MRI; MANOVA = multivariate analysis of variance
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  M. S. Koyama, C. Kelly, Z. Shehzad, D. Penesetti, F. X. Castellanos, and M. P. Milham Reading Networks at Rest Cereb Cortex, February 5, 2010; (2010) bhq005v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. Cameron Sex/Gender, Language and the New Biologism Applied Linguistics, May 31, 2009; (2009) amp022v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. M. Andreano and L. Cahill Sex influences on the neurobiology of learning and memory Learn. Mem., March 24, 2009; 16(4): 248 - 266. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Mbwana, M. M. Berl, E. K. Ritzl, L. Rosenberger, J. Mayo, S. Weinstein, J. A. Conry, P. L. Pearl, S. Shamim, E. N. Moore, et al. Limitations to plasticity of language network reorganization in localization related epilepsy Brain, February 1, 2009; 132(2): 347 - 356. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. E. Stark, D. S. Margulies, Z. E. Shehzad, P. Reiss, A. M. C. Kelly, L. Q. Uddin, D. G. Gee, A. K. Roy, M. T. Banich, F. X. Castellanos, et al. Regional Variation in Interhemispheric Coordination of Intrinsic Hemodynamic Fluctuations J. Neurosci., December 17, 2008; 28(51): 13754 - 13764. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Weis, M. Hausmann, B. Stoffers, R. Vohn, T. Kellermann, and W. Sturm Estradiol Modulates Functional Brain Organization during the Menstrual Cycle: An Analysis of Interhemispheric Inhibition J. Neurosci., December 10, 2008; 28(50): 13401 - 13410. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M Wirth, H Horn, T Koenig, M Stein, A Federspiel, B Meier, C. Michel, and W Strik Sex Differences in Semantic Processing: Event-Related Brain Potentials Distinguish between Lower and Higher Order Semantic Analysis during Word Reading Cereb Cortex, September 1, 2007; 17(9): 1987 - 1997. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 V. E. ALEXANDROV Literature, Literariness, and the Brain Comparative Literature, January 1, 2007; 59(2): 97 - 118. [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. M. S. Nys, M. J. E. v. Zandvoort, H. B. v. d. Worp, L. J. Kappelle, and E. H. F. d. Haan Neuropsychological and neuroanatomical correlates of perseverative responses in subacute stroke. Brain, August 1, 2006; 129(Pt 8): 2148 - 2157. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. M. Berl, L. M. Balsamo, B. Xu, E. N. Moore, S. L. Weinstein, J. A. Conry, P. L. Pearl, B. C. Sachs, C. B. Grandin, C. Frattali, et al. Seizure focus affects regional language networks assessed by fMRI Neurology, November 22, 2005; 65(10): 1604 - 1611. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Kocak, J. L. Ulmer, B. B. Biswal, A. Aralasmak, D. L. Daniels, and L. P. Mark The Influence of Gender on Auditory and Language Cortical Activation Patterns: Preliminary Data AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., October 1, 2005; 26(9): 2248 - 2255. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Mechelli, K. J. Friston, R. S. Frackowiak, and C. J. Price Structural Covariance in the Human Cortex J. Neurosci., September 7, 2005; 25(36): 8303 - 8310. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Kitazawa and K. Kansaku Sex difference in language lateralization may be task-dependent Brain, May 1, 2005; 128(5): E30 - E30. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J.-F. Demonet, G. Thierry, and D. Cardebat Renewal of the Neurophysiology of Language: Functional Neuroimaging Physiol Rev, January 1, 2005; 85(1): 49 - 95. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. G. Wood, A. S. Harvey, R. M. Wellard, D. F. Abbott, V. Anderson, M. Kean, M. M. Saling, and G. D. Jackson Language cortex activation in normal children Neurology, September 28, 2004; 63(6): 1035 - 1044. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. Fernandez, D. Cardebat, J.-F. Demonet, P. A. Joseph, J.-M. Mazaux, M. Barat, and M. Allard Functional MRI Follow-Up Study of Language Processes in Healthy Subjects and During Recovery in a Case of Aphasia Stroke, September 1, 2004; 35(9): 2171 - 2176. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. M. Ringman, J. L. Saver, R. F. Woolson, W. R. Clarke, and H. P. Adams Frequency, risk factors, anatomy, and course of unilateral neglect in an acute stroke cohort Neurology, August 10, 2004; 63(3): 468 - 474. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
I. E. C. Sommer, A. Aleman, A. Bouma, and R. S. Kahn Do women really have more bilateral language representation than men? A meta-analysis of functional imaging studies Brain, August 1, 2004; 127(8): 1845 - 1852. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 I. E. C. Sommer, N. F. Ramsey, R. C. W. Mandl, C. J. Van Oel, and R. S. Kahn Language activation in monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia The British Journal of Psychiatry, February 2, 2004; 184(2): 128 - 135. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Thompson, M. Caruso, and K. Ellerbeck Sex Matters in Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities J Intellect Disabil., December 1, 2003; 7(4): 345 - 362. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Janszky, H. Jokeit, D. Heinemann, R. Schulz, F. G. Woermann, and A. Ebner Epileptic activity influences the speech organization in medial temporal lobe epilepsy Brain, September 1, 2003; 126(9): 2043 - 2051. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D.S. Sabsevitz, S.J. Swanson, T. A. Hammeke, M. V. Spanaki, E. T. Possing, G. L. Morris III, W. M. Mueller, and J. R. Binder Use of preoperative functional neuroimaging to predict language deficits from epilepsy surgery Neurology, June 10, 2003; 60(11): 1788 - 1792. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Z. Ahmad, L. M. Balsamo, B. C. Sachs, B. Xu, and W. D. Gaillard Auditory comprehension of language in young children: Neural networks identified with fMRI Neurology, May 27, 2003; 60(10): 1598 - 1605. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Fernandez, S. Weis, B. Stoffel-Wagner, I. Tendolkar, M. Reuber, S. Beyenburg, P. Klaver, J. Fell, A. de Greiff, J. Ruhlmann, et al. Menstrual Cycle-Dependent Neural Plasticity in the Adult Human Brain Is Hormone, Task, and Region Specific J. Neurosci., May 1, 2003; 23(9): 3790 - 3795. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Krainik, S. Lehericy, H. Duffau, L. Capelle, H. Chainay, P. Cornu, L. Cohen, A. -L. Boch, J. -F. Mangin, D. Le Bihan, et al. Postoperative speech disorder after medial frontal surgery: Role of the supplementary motor area Neurology, February 25, 2003; 60(4): 587 - 594. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. W.L. Chee and D. Caplan Face encoding and psychometric testing in healthy dextrals with right hemisphere language Neurology, December 24, 2002; 59(12): 1928 - 1934. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. P. Szaflarski, J. R. Binder, E. T. Possing, K. A. McKiernan, B. D. Ward, and T. A. Hammeke Language lateralization in left-handed and ambidextrous people: fMRI data Neurology, July 23, 2002; 59(2): 238 - 244. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S D Rosen, E Paulesu, R J S Wise, and P G Camici Central neural contribution to the perception of chest pain in cardiac syndrome X Heart, June 1, 2002; 87(6): 513 - 519. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. D. Phillips, M. J. Lowe, J. T. Lurito, M. Dzemidzic, and V. P. Mathews Temporal Lobe Activation Demonstrates Sex-based Differences during Passive Listening Radiology, July 1, 2001; 220(1): 202 - 207. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. L. Billingsley, M. P. McAndrews, A. P. Crawley, and D. J. Mikulis Functional MRI of phonological and semantic processing in temporal lobe epilepsy Brain, June 1, 2001; 124(6): 1218 - 1227. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Xu, J. Grafman, W. D. Gaillard, K. Ishii, F. Vega-Bermudez, P. Pietrini, P. Reeves-Tyer, P. DiCamillo, and W. Theodore Conjoint and Extended Neural Networks for the Computation of Speech Codes: The Neural Basis of Selective Impairment in Reading Words and Pseudowords Cereb Cortex, March 1, 2001; 11(3): 267 - 277. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. A. Detre and T. F. Floyd Functional MRI and Its Applications to the Clinical Neurosciences Neuroscientist, February 1, 2001; 7(1): 64 - 79. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Knecht, B. Drager, M. Deppe, L. Bobe, H. Lohmann, A. Floel, E.-B. Ringelstein, and H. Henningsen Handedness and hemispheric language dominance in healthy humans Brain, December 1, 2000; 123(12): 2512 - 2518. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Kansaku, A. Yamaura, and S. Kitazawa Sex Differences in Lateralization Revealed in the Posterior Language Areas Cereb Cortex, September 1, 2000; 10(9): 866 - 872. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Harasty, J. R. Binder, J. A. Frost, T. A. Hammeke, P. S. F. Bellgowan, S. M. Rao, and R. W. Cox Language processing in both sexes: evidence from brain studies Brain, February 1, 2000; 123(2): 404 - 406. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Knecht, M. Deppe, B. Drager, L. Bobe, H. Lohmann, E.-B. Ringelstein, and H. Henningsen Language lateralization in healthy right-handers Brain, January 1, 2000; 123(1): 74 - 81. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. A. Springer, J. R. Binder, T. A. Hammeke, S. J. Swanson, J. A. Frost, P. S. F. Bellgowan, C. C. Brewer, H. M. Perry, G. L. Morris, and W. M. Mueller Language dominance in neurologically normal and epilepsy subjects: A functional MRI study Brain, November 1, 1999; 122(11): 2033 - 2046. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|