Sex differences in brain development may explain gender differences in neurodevelopmental disorders

Despite gender bias in autism spectrum disorders being well-known, the biological basis of the disorders has remained unclear. This has partly been due to a lack of understanding of sex differences in brain development. A new study published in the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology however has recently delved into this problem, providing essential information on key differences between male and female brain regions during development. By assessing over 800 healthy newborn children for 2 years, utilizing brain imaging and measures of sex hormones in saliva, researchers from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (NC, USA) have successfully characterized sex...