Study finds 3000 genes differ between male and female brains

Friday 17 April 2026 - 15:40

By: Dakir Madiha

Study finds 3000 genes differ between male and female brains

A large scale analysis of individual brain cells has identified more than 3,000 genes whose activity differs between male and female brains, offering new insight into biological factors linked to neurological and psychiatric disorders. The study, published in Science, analyzed gene expression across multiple brain regions and cell types using advanced sequencing techniques.

Researchers examined tissue samples from 30 adult donors, evenly split between men and women, focusing on six cortical regions. Using single nucleus RNA sequencing, they found that while biological sex explains only a small share of overall gene expression variation, a consistent set of 133 genes showed sex biased activity across all regions and cell types. Most of these genes were autosomal, meaning they are not located on sex chromosomes, suggesting broader regulatory mechanisms at play.

The most pronounced differences were observed in the fusiform cortex, a region involved in facial recognition and social cognition, as well as in key brain cell types including oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and excitatory neurons. Although genes on sex chromosomes displayed the largest individual differences, the overall pattern in autosomal genes appeared to be largely influenced by steroid hormones, pointing to hormonal regulation as a central factor.

The findings have direct implications for understanding why conditions such as ADHD, Schizophrenia, Depression and Alzheimer’s disease affect men and women differently. Many of the genes identified overlap with known genetic risk variants associated with these disorders. Researchers grouped the observed differences into 13 major expression signatures linked to brain metabolism, structural organization and regulatory pathways.

Scientists caution that not all differences can be attributed solely to biology. External factors such as environment and social experience may also influence gene expression patterns. Future research will aim to determine when these differences emerge during development and whether they are present before birth. The study’s dataset has been made publicly available to support further investigation into sex related variation in brain function.