The structure of the amygdala associates with human sexual permissiveness: Evidence from voxel‐based morphometry

Abstract

Sexual behavior is a critical function of human procreation. Despite previous studies that investigated the neural mechanisms of basic human physiological sexual functions, the neural mechanisms that underlie individual differences in human sexual permissiveness remain unknown. We used voxelbased morphometry and a questionnaire (scale for sexual attitudes) to measure sexual permissiveness to investigate the gray matter and white matter structural correlates of sexual permissiveness. Sexual permissiveness was negatively correlated with regional gray matter density of the structures involving the right amygdala and surrounding areas, and positively correlated with regional white matter density of the white matter area that spread around the left amygdala to the hypothalamus area. There were no gender-specific relationships in the neural correlates of our findings. These findings suggest that structural variations in

Creative females have larger white matter structures: Evidence from a large sample study

“…It must be investigated whether the present findings hold true for other populations, such as children, the less educated, and the elderly. However, restricting the study to subjects with similar characteristics is warranted given the weak associations between individual cognitive functions and brain structures [Takeuchi et al, 2015a]. Furthermore, as has been discussed previously [Takeuchi et al, 2012a], there is correlation between intelligence and creativity among subjects with relatively low intelligence [Jauk et al, 2013;Karwowski et al, 2016].…”

“…The following methods were the same as in our previous study and descriptions were reproduced from our previous study [Takeuchi et al, 2015a]. Using the new segmentation algorithm implemented in SPM12, T1-weighted structural images of each individual were segmented into six tissues.…”

“…First, the template for the DARTEL procedures was created using imaging data from 800 participants (400 males and 400 females). The following methods were the same as in our previous study and descriptions were reproduced from our previous study [Takeuchi et al, 2015a]. Next, using this existing template, the DARTEL procedures were performed for all of the subjects in the present study.…”

Polymorphisms in the microglial marker molecule CX3CR1 affect the blood volume of the human brain

“…SPM12‐based diffeomorphic anatomical registration through the exponentiated lie algebra (DARTEL) import images of the two tissue probability maps from the above‐mentioned segmentation process were then applied. Default parameter settings were utilized for the DARTEL registration process, and the template for the DARTEL procedures was created utilizing imaging data from 400 male and 400 female participants as described previously . The generated images were spatially normalized to the Montreal Neurological Institute space to yield images with 1.5 × 1.5 × 1.5 mm 3 voxels.…”

“…Default parameter settings were utilized for the DAR-TEL registration process, and the template for the DAR-TEL procedures was created utilizing imaging data from 400 male and 400 female participants as described previously. 47 The generated images were spatially normalized to the Montreal Neurological Institute space to yield images with 1.5 × 1.5 × 1.5 mm 3 voxels. Total gray and white matter volumes were calculated and a volume change correction was applied by modulating each voxel with the Jacobian determinants derived from spatial normalization to determine regional differences in the absolute amount of brain tissue.…”