Sex differences in resting-state fMRI functional connectivity by the perspective of humor processing
Poster No:
712
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Chia-Yueh Chang1, Yu-Chen Chan2, Hsueh-Chih Chen1
Institutions:
1National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan, 2National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Introduction:
Little research has delved into the relationship between functional connectivity (FC) during resting-state and the sense of humor and whether this connection varies between sexes. A review of previous studies has explored the neural mechanisms involved in humor processing [1,2,3,4] and humor processing across diverse groups, considering factors like sex [4]. These studies have uncovered sex variations in the cognitive and emotional aspects of humor processing [4]. The findings suggest that, compared to men, women exhibit heightened activation in humor appreciation, resulting in increased amusement and more extensive cognitive inferences in response to jokes. Conversely, men show greater activation levels in humor comprehension, indicating a more integrated cognitive processing of humor. This study aims to investigate whether there are sex differences in FC during the resting-state and to explore the association between FC and the sense of humor.
Methods:
Participants
A total of 56 (26 men, mean age = 23.54 ± 4.94 and 30 women, mean age = 23.67 ± 3.46) healthy right-handed with normal or corrected-to-normal vision and no history of psychiatric or neurological diseases participated in this study. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of National Taiwan University.
rsfMRI data acquisition
The resting-state fMRI (rsfMRI) scans were performed using a 3T Siemens Magnetom Prisma scanner (Erlangen, Germany) and a standard 20-channel head coil and underwent a rsfMRI scan of 12 minutes. Functional images using the following acquisition parameters: TR = 2s, TE = 26ms, FA = 90°, number of slices = 40, and voxel size = 3.4 mm×3.4mm×3.4 mm. The image data were preprocessed following the procedures implemented in the CONN toolbox.
Data analysis
The images were processed through whole-brain analysis with the CONN toolbox, and FC was measured using the seed-based correlation method. The study uses CONN's default seeds that exert a complete brain parcellation encompassing 106 cortical and subcortical areas from the FSL Harvard-Oxford Atlas, 26 cerebellar areas of the AAL atlas, and 32 additional areas corresponding to main networks, default mode (DMN), salience, dorsal attention, fronto-parietal, and language.
Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale
The present study utilized the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale [5]. It comprises six subscales, totaling 54 items, namely "humor comprehension," "humor creation," "using humor in the social context," "humor coping," "attitude toward humor," and "tendency to laugh." Scoring is conducted on a Likert five-point scale, with a higher total score indicating a greater sense of humor.
A total of 56 (26 men, mean age = 23.54 ± 4.94 and 30 women, mean age = 23.67 ± 3.46) healthy right-handed with normal or corrected-to-normal vision and no history of psychiatric or neurological diseases participated in this study. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of National Taiwan University.
rsfMRI data acquisition
The resting-state fMRI (rsfMRI) scans were performed using a 3T Siemens Magnetom Prisma scanner (Erlangen, Germany) and a standard 20-channel head coil and underwent a rsfMRI scan of 12 minutes. Functional images using the following acquisition parameters: TR = 2s, TE = 26ms, FA = 90°, number of slices = 40, and voxel size = 3.4 mm×3.4mm×3.4 mm. The image data were preprocessed following the procedures implemented in the CONN toolbox.
Data analysis
The images were processed through whole-brain analysis with the CONN toolbox, and FC was measured using the seed-based correlation method. The study uses CONN's default seeds that exert a complete brain parcellation encompassing 106 cortical and subcortical areas from the FSL Harvard-Oxford Atlas, 26 cerebellar areas of the AAL atlas, and 32 additional areas corresponding to main networks, default mode (DMN), salience, dorsal attention, fronto-parietal, and language.
Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale
The present study utilized the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale [5]. It comprises six subscales, totaling 54 items, namely "humor comprehension," "humor creation," "using humor in the social context," "humor coping," "attitude toward humor," and "tendency to laugh." Scoring is conducted on a Likert five-point scale, with a higher total score indicating a greater sense of humor.
Results:
The results showed sex differences in FC associated with a sense of humor (Figure 1). Compared with women, men's greater FC between the right inferior frontal gyrus and the supramarginal gyrus was associated with a higher attitude toward humor; the greater FC between the right middle temporal gyrus and the precuneus cortex was associated with higher humor coping; and the greater FC between the right IFG of the language network and the right frontal pole was associated with higher humor coping. On the other hand, women with stronger FC between the temporal pole and right angular gyrus were associated with higher use and sense of humor in social contexts.
·The sex differences in the functional connectivity (men > women)
Conclusions:
The results of FC revealed sex differences consistent with previous research, highlighting that women exhibited more robust connectivity in humor appreciation, whereas men demonstrated more vital connectivity in humor comprehension [4]. Interestingly, this study found that when men displayed higher levels of humor coping, the FC between the rMTG and precuneus and the right IFG and right frontal pole in the language networks were stronger. Meanwhile, when women had a higher sense of humor and the ability to use humor in social contexts, the FC between rTP and rAG was stronger.
Emotion, Motivation and Social Neuroscience:
Social Neuroscience Other 2
Emotion and Motivation Other 1
Modeling and Analysis Methods:
Connectivity (eg. functional, effective, structural)
Task-Independent and Resting-State Analysis
Novel Imaging Acquisition Methods:
BOLD fMRI
Keywords:
Cognition
Emotions
FUNCTIONAL MRI
Other - Humor
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
Provide references using author date format
[2] Chan, Y.-C., Chou, T.-L., Chen, H.-C., Yeh, Y.-C., Lavallee, J. P., Liang, K.-C., & Chang, K.-E. (2013). Towards a neural circuit model of verbal humor processing: An fMRI study of the neural substrates of incongruity detection and resolution. NeuroImage, 66(1), 169-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.10.019
[3] Chang, C.-Y., Chan, Y.-C., & Chen, H.-C. (2023). Verification of the Four-Stage Model of Humor Processing: Evidence from an fMRI Study by Three-Element Verbal Jokes. Brain Sciences, 13(3), 417. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13030417
[4] Chan, Y.-C. (2016). Neural Correlates of Sex/Gender Differences in Humor Processing for Different Joke Types. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 536. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00536
[5] Chen, S.-J., & Chen, H.-C. (2005) Development of the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale. Research in Applied Psychology, (26), 167-187.