Neural correlates of social rejection sensitivity in trans persons on cross-sex hormone therapy

Trans persons continue to be stigmatized and marginalized in society. However, little is known how the experience of social rejection manifests at the neurobiological level. [ view full abstract ]

Trans persons continue to be stigmatized and marginalized in society. However, little is known how the experience of social rejection manifests at the neurobiological level.

To assess the neurobiological correlates of social rejection experience in trans persons on cross-sex hormone therapy. [ view full abstract ]

To assess the neurobiological correlates of social rejection experience in trans persons on cross-sex hormone therapy.

In the present study, 20 trans men, 19 trans women, 20 cisgender men and 20 cisgender women completed a computerized social rejection task, the cyberball task, whilst undergoing fMRI scanning. This task includes a game of... [ view full abstract ]

In the present study, 20 trans men, 19 trans women, 20 cisgender men and 20 cisgender women completed a computerized social rejection task, the cyberball task, whilst undergoing fMRI scanning. This task includes a game of toss-the-ball by which the participant will at some point be excluded. However, after this exclusion conditions, participants are then re-included.

Neural activations during the exclusion relative to the inclusion condition and the social re-inclusion after exclusion condition. Moreover, functional connectiovity analyses (PPI) were also conducted, which assess the... [ view full abstract ]

Neural activations during the exclusion relative to the inclusion condition and the social re-inclusion after exclusion condition. Moreover, functional connectiovity analyses (PPI) were also conducted, which assess the relationship between the activations of different brain regions.

During the experience of social exclusion, cisgender women showed neural activations in the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), regions involved in behavioral control and affective regulation,... [ view full abstract ]

During the experience of social exclusion, cisgender women showed neural activations in the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), regions involved in behavioral control and affective regulation, respectively. None of the other groups showed any effect. By contrast, during the experience of re-inclusion into the game, cisgender men, trans men and trans women, but not cisgender women showed activations in the IFG. Group-specific differences in the direct comparison revealed predominantly differences in the ACC. Functional connectivity analyses of the ACC indicated greater association with the lateral prefrontal cortex in trans men relative to cisgender men and women during social exclusion and reinclusion.

The present findings highlight the neurobiological correlates of the processing of social rejection experience, particularly in trans men. [ view full abstract ]

The present findings highlight the neurobiological correlates of the processing of social rejection experience, particularly in trans men.