Sex and gender difference in cognitive and behavioral studies in developmental age: An introduction

Abstract

This paper introduces a special issue focused on sex and gender (s/g) cognitive/behavioral differences at developmental ages providing an overview of this multifaceted and debated topic. It will provide a description of the biological systems that are strongly interconnected to generate s/g differences, that is, genetic determinants, sex hormones, differences in brain structure, organization, and/or function, inherited or modifiable under environmental pressures. Developmental studies are rare. Some addressed whether s/g differences in cognitive/behavioral characteristics are evident early in life and are consistent throughout development, entailing that s/g differences can follow the evolving steps in girls and boys in different domains. The data are far from being homogeneous and consistent about s/g difference in language, social skills, and visuo/spatial abilities. The differences are small, often with overlapping performances, similar to what is seen in adulthood. Given that several variables and the interactions between them are implicated, further longitudinal studies adopting adequate assessment tools, very large size multicultural samples stratified in different, well‐sized and precise age groups, considering biological and sociocultural variables, are needed. Due to the complexity of the issue, there is still the need to support and adopt an s/g difference approach also in cognitive and behavioral studies at developmental ages. Finally, these studies have not only scientific importance and relevant cultural, anthropological, and social implications, but are also useful for pedagogical programming as well as for the study of the different susceptibility to develop CNS diseases and consequently to promote different therapies and treatments.

“The two voices,” or more? Music and gender from myth and conquests to the neurosciences

“…Therefore, the formulation "sex/gender" will at times be adopted, occasionally overriding some authors' usage, when the concept is ambivalent and hovers between distinct biological and sociocultural implications, or combines them. This is also consistent with the introductory article to this special issue (Riva, 2021).…”

Insights into Sex and Gender Differences in Brain and Psychopathologies Using Big Data

“…Memory and visuospatial decline varied across racial/ethnic groups, with black women seeing sharper declines in memory and visuospatial abilities than Hispanic males and non-Hispanic white women, respectively [ 47 ]. Additional longitudinal studies with extremely large multicultural samples stratified in distinct, well-sized, and precise age groups, taking into account biological and sociocultural characteristics, are required given the involvement of a number of variables and the interactions between them [ 48 ].…”

Sex and gender correlates of sexually polymorphic cognition

“…Studies showing that gender-based factors impact cognition by an inter-correlation with biological factors [ 22 , 200 ]. Certain critical periods in the development of biological factors of SPC occur at the same time as the emergence of some gender-based factors [ 201 ]. The period around the sixth month of life is characterized by a high exposure of sex hormones, resulting in permanent and irreversible effects [ 202 ].…”