Isabella Linder

Prior work has shown individual variability in the spatial layout i.e. topography of functional networks in the human brain. However, there is limited literature regarding such individualized functional topography differences between sexes. This article examines the sex differences observed amongst functional brain network surface area and fragments across fourteen networks. fMRI data was utilized from the ABCD study which constituted 11,878 children aged 9-10 years of age. After quality control for fMRI data, the remaining 5969 participants were divided into two groups: 2932 for initial analysis and 3037 for replication. The two samples were matched for various demographics factors. Statistical analyses showed a sex related significant difference in eleven of the fourteen functional networks’ surface area and three of the fourteen networks’ fragmentation. Females demonstrated to only have larger surface area in the default mode network (DMN) and more fragmentation in the auditory network (AUD). These results provide a further understanding of sex differences in functional brain topography and should be further studied. Future research should aim to examine how functional network topography differences based on sex relate to sex differences noted in various behaviors.