Sex differences in executive functioning: Continuity and discontinuity across typical and atypical development

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K02947
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 09060:Special needs education-related
• Research Institution: Yamagata University
• Principal Investigator: Omura Kazufumi 山形大学, 地域教育文化学部, 教授 (90431634)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 実行機能 / 発達障害 / 個人差 / 実験系心理学 / 脳・神経

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to investigate sex differences in executive functioning measured using electrophysiological and behavioral indexes. However, we could not collect enough electrophysiological data because of the pandemic of COVID-19 and the water leakage damage in the electric-shielded room. Collectively, we have analyzed the previously collected data in the time discrimination task and the emotional processing task by adding disorder-related personality traits, that is, autistic traits and impulsivity. The results suggest sex differences in electrophysiological indexes in the time discrimination task. In the time discrimination condition, we found that females showed significantly larger P350 amplitude than males. We did not find sex differences in the emotional processing task.

Free Research Field

社会科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

実行機能を反映する各種課題成績や脳活動が、性差や障害特性傾向に修飾されることは支持されてきたが、本研究の意義は、この修飾の程度が定型－非定型発達では異なりうるという考えに依っている。時間処理機能といった従来の認知面を重視した実行機能（認知的実行機能）だけでなく、情動面の実行機能（情動的実行機能）を情動処理課題から検討する新しい視点を取り入れた。性差－脳－行動の関係に対して、質的・量的アプローチを組み合わせた認知神経科学研究は、本邦ではあまり展開されておらず、将来の発達障害の性差研究に寄与し、性差を考慮した介入プログラムや教育支援の開発への客観的指針の提案につながることが期待される。