Abstract #1984

MRI Brain Morphometry in Heterosexual Men and Women, Gay Men, and Transgender Women: A Preliminary Study

Suwit Saekho¹, Artit Rodkong², Diana E Peragine³, Malvina N Skorska³, Pongpun Saokhieo⁴, Taweewat Supintham⁴, Oranicha Kaewthip⁴, Kittichai Wantanajittikul¹, Suwat Chariyalertsak⁴, and Doug P VanderLaan³

¹Radiologic Technology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, ²Radiology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, ³Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada, ⁴Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

This study investigated brain bases of sexual and gender diversity. Heterosexual men and women, gay men, and transgender women underwent structural MRI. Regional volumes and cortical thickness were examined. Heterosexual sex differences were replicated. Men had greater gray and white matter volumes and women had thicker cortices. Overall, transgender women had a brain pattern that more closely reflected that of heterosexual women, whereas gay men were more similar to heterosexual men. Yet, transgender women also showed some volume and cortical thickness similarities to heterosexual men. These findings help identify brain regions related to gender identity.

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