This review aims to highlight the importance of research on structural, functional, molecular-biological, and disease-specific sex differences in the brain, and to examine current bibliometric indicators related to research on sex differences. The Web of Science Core Collection was searched for related articles from 2010 to 2023. Structural and functional brain differences according to sex, including variations in communication patterns between hemispheres, may play a role in mental disorders. Sex differences in neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and γ-aminobutyric acid contribute to disparities in mental health, addiction, and neurodevelopmental conditions. Neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia exhibit sex-based differences in prevalence, symptoms, brain changes, and neurotransmitter disruptions under hormonal influence. There is a growing body of research on depression, adolescence, the hippocampus, the amygdala, and cognition, highlighting the importance of considering sex/gender factors. Recent studies on sex differences in brain diseases have identified variations in brain structure, function, and neurophysiological substances, as well as in hormones and genes between the sexes. The incidence of psychiatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, depression, anxiety, and Alzheimer's disease is increasingly being linked to sex differences, and the need for research into the mechanisms underlying these differences is gaining recognition. However, there remains a significant gap in sex-specific neuroscience research related to the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and management of these conditions. Advancing inclusive research will require comprehensive training, a consensus on methodology, diverse perspectives through collaborative frameworks, governmental/institutional support, and dedicated funding to create suitable research environments and implementation strategies.

Background: For gendered innovations to be streamlined in health research, researchers need tools to measure gender variables quantitatively. Because gender is a sociocultural concept which varies by culture, it is important to check feasibility of using tools developed in western countries before using them in Korea. The objective of this study is to conduct a pilot study for adapting a questionnaire measuring gender variables from the literature for the Korean population. Methods: The research was conducted in two steps: 1) modification of questionnaire by an expert group, and 2) an on-line survey of 3,000 adults, in three age groups, balanced in sex. The questionnaire was composed of 7 gender variables with 2 to 6 items, constituting a total of 24 5-point Likert scale items. Gender variable scores were calculated as the average of Z-scores of items pertaining to each variable. Results: Participants were 45.6% men, 43.9% women, and 10.5% other gender. Scores of five gender variables-caregiver tension, work tension, independence, emotional intelligence, and discrimination-were significantly different among sex and gender groups. Among gender variables, work strain, caregiver strain, and discrimination had notable influences on health status and health-related behaviors among survey participants. Conclusions Several gender variables were related to health status and health behaviors in Korean adults. This is the first attempt in Korea to quantify gender characteristics to be used for health research. Further studies are needed to verify the questionnaire and methods developed in this study for use with diagnosed disease outcomes.