Increase in density of neurons in cortex of females compared with males

Range ~4,000 neurons/mm^3 higher in the female than in the male
Organism Human Homo sapiens
Reference Haug H. Brain sizes, surfaces, and neuronal sizes of the cortex cerebri: a stereological investigation of man and his variability and a comparison with some mammals (primates, whales, marsupials, insectivores, and one elephant). Am J Anat. 1987 Oct180(2):126-42 DOI: 10.1002/aja.1001800203 p.135 right column top paragraphPubMed ID3673918
Primary Source Haug, H. 1985 Are neurons of the human cerebral cortex really lost during aging? A morphometric examination. In: Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type. J. Traber and W.H. Gipsen, eds. Springer, Berlin, pp. 150-163.
Comments P.135 left column bottom paragraph: "[Investigators] could find no change of Ne-am [total amount of neurons] during aging nor a difference between male and female (Fig. 9b). Both points were surprising. [Their] detailed measurement of the effect of aging in four human areas (Haug et al., 1984) has shown that the densities of neurons increase. It is necessary to state that [they] have eliminated the errors due to the different shrinkage of the human brain tissue with aging and refer to the fresh tissue volume. The values (Ne-am) of the females lying amongst those of the males demonstrate the fact that females have a higher density of neurons in their cortex. Haug (1985 primary source) has found that the density is about 4,000 neurons per mm^3 higher in the female than in the male."
Entered by Uri M
ID 115166