A detailed look at children's brains might show how sex and gender are different, new study says

Sex and gender are often conflated or equated in everyday conversations. A new study of nearly 5,000 9- and 10-year-olds found that sex and gender map onto distinct parts of the brain. The research suggests that both sex and gender can influence the brain and should be considered separately for a better understanding. The study defined sex as what was assigned to the child at birth based on genitalia. Gender, on the other hand, was defined as an individual’s attitude, feelings, behaviors, and socially constructed roles. The study used brain imaging data to identify how sex and gender influenced different regions of the brain. The researchers hope to further investigate the interaction between sex, gender, and brain development throughout a person’s lifetime.