Keynote Lecture: The Neurobiology of gender dysphoria – testing a new theory

According to the current dogma, having a gender identity that contrasts with the sex assigned at birth originates from a sex-atypical differentiation of the brain. This hypothesis is, however, based on comparative studies with... [ view full abstract ]

According to the current dogma, having a gender identity that contrasts with the sex assigned at birth originates from a sex-atypical differentiation of the brain. This hypothesis is, however, based on comparative studies with heterosexual control groups, but a large proportion of transgender individuals has a homosexual and bisexual orientation (relative to their sex assigned at birth), and a sex-atypical cerebral sexual differentiation has been reported also among cisgender homosexuals. 

This raises the question to what extent transgenders’ sex-atypical brain characteristics can be explained by their experienced gender identity vs. the higher degree of homosexual orientation in relation to the sex assigned... [ view full abstract ]

This raises the question to what extent transgenders’ sex-atypical brain characteristics can be explained by their experienced gender identity vs. the higher degree of homosexual orientation in relation to the sex assigned at birth. 

In the present talk I will argue for a new theory about the neurobiology of gender dysphoria, and present new brain imaging and behavioral data from trans men, trans women, hetero and homo sexual cis-gender controls. Based on... [ view full abstract ]

In the present talk I will argue for a new theory about the neurobiology of gender dysphoria, and present new brain imaging and behavioral data from trans men, trans women, hetero and homo sexual cis-gender controls. Based on the hitherto generated data I will put forward a hypothesis that the main hallmark for gender dysphoria is a structural and functional disconnection within body-self perception networks in the mesial prefrontal and parietal cortices. I will also discuss whether and how this disconnection can be affected by cross-sex hormone therapy.