OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of gender on the marginal division(MrD)of the neostriatum in healthy adults.

METHODSConventional magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),3D structure images,and resting-state function MRI(rs-fMRI)were performed in 64 health adults,who were divided into male group(n=28)and female group(n=26).MrD was defined using manual drawing on structure images,and was applied to the computation of functional connectivity maps.Single group data was performed with simple t test,and two groups data were performed with analysis of covariance with age as the covariance.

RESULTSThe brain regions of functional connectivity related with MrD were located in bilateral middle cingulate gyrus,rolandic operculum,insula,putamen,thalamus and amygdala in male group,and in bilateral heschl gyrus,putamen,thalamus and amygdala in female group.The brain regions with increased functional connectivity related with MrD were demonstrated in right superior temporal gyrus,middle temporal gyrus and gyrus rectus,and decreased in left superior parietal cortex in male group compared with that in female group.

CONCLUSIONThe functional connectivity related with MrD shows certain gender-related consistency and difference in the brain of health adults.