A recent study published in Scientific Reports unveils how artificial intelligence (AI) tools are revolutionizing the detection of sex-related disparities in brain structure. Analyzing MRI scans, these AI algorithms discern subtle organizational discrepancies at the cellular level between male and female brains, primarily in the white matter, crucial for inter-regional communication.
Led by NYU Langone Health researchers, the study scrutinized MRI data from 471 men and 560 women, employing machine learning techniques. The AI models effectively differentiated between male and female brains by detecting intricate structural patterns invisible to human observation.
This breakthrough is crucial given the varying rates and symptoms of brain disorders like multiple sclerosis and autism spectrum disorder across genders. By comprehending the impact of biological sex on brain structure, diagnostic accuracy and treatment efficacy can be enhanced.
Dr. Yvonne Lui, the senior author, highlights the significance of this study in unraveling the brain’s microstructure, potentially shedding light on the development and manifestation of neurological disorders. Unlike previous studies relying on subjective analyses, this research utilized unbiased machine learning, eliminating human biases.
The AI models, trained on diverse brain scans, autonomously learned to discern biological sex without relying on overall brain size or shape, achieving remarkable accuracy rates of 92% to 98%. Notably, the algorithms identified specific features, such as water diffusion through brain tissue, contributing to their determinations.
Co-lead authors Junbo Chen and Vara Lakshmi Bayanagari stress the importance of inclusivity in brain disorder research, cautioning against using men as the standard model. While acknowledging the study’s focus on cis-gendered individuals, they emphasize the need to investigate sex-related brain differences over time, considering environmental and hormonal influences.
The interdisciplinary team, including researchers from NYU Tandon School of Engineering, plans to delve deeper into the dynamics of sex-related brain structural disparities, aiming to uncover the underlying environmental and social factors.
The study underscores the transformative potential of AI in neuroimaging research, offering unprecedented insights into the intricacies of brain structure and function.
