Gender-based brain lateralization using multichannel near infrared spectroscopy

Past studies have shown the male brain tends to activate hemispheres more laterally than the female brain. However, advancement in neuroimaging techniques have disputed that notion. Functional MRI images have depicted that hemisphere activation cannot be generalized between genders, but is a characteristic of the individual. The neuroimaging technique-near infrared spectroscopy system (NIRS) presents a unique opportunity to acquire real time measurements of hemodynamic changes in the prefrontal cortex, in order to observe brain-hemisphere neuronal activation. Using an in-house built NIRS system, we gave six males and four females unilateral hemisphere tasks. By observing concentration changes in oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin, we were able to acquire average ratio of concentration changes between the left and right hemisphere during the tasks. Our preliminary results show no distinguishable difference in lateralization activation between genders. Further subjects will be acquired to validate the findings.