# The ability to drive cortical networks in the low gamma range differs between sexes

## TL;DR

The study found that males and females differ in how their brains synchronize with low gamma frequency sounds, suggesting the need for sex-specific norms in brain-related clinical assessments.

## Contribution

This study is the first to show sex differences in low gamma auditory responses using chirp-like stimulation and normative EEG data.

## Key findings

- Females showed lower phase-locking and spectral responses in the 35–45 Hz range compared to males.
- Individual gamma frequencies were similar between sexes despite differences in synchronization.
- No lateralization of gamma responses was observed in either sex.

## Abstract

The brain’s ability to synchronize with periodic auditory stimuli is widely used to study gamma-range neural activity. Chirp-like stimulation, covering a broad frequency range, elicits envelope-following responses (ERFs) that enable assessment across multiple frequencies and estimation of the individual gamma frequency (IGF). However, the impact of sex differences on EFR remains understudied. We compared auditory ERFs in the 30–60 Hz range between females and males. Electroencephalography was recorded in 80 healthy young adults (42 females; 26.07 ± 4.28 years) using chirp-like auditory stimulation. Females were tested during the early follicular phase to minimize hormonal effects. Phase-locking index (PLI) and event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) were analyzed across nine fronto-central electrodes. Females showed significantly lower PLI (35–43 Hz) and ERSP (35–46 Hz), while IGFs were comparable. These results emphasize sex-related influences on gamma auditory responses and the need for sex-specific normative baselines in clinical applications.

•Auditory chirp-like click stimulus covering 30–60 Hz elicits frontocentral gamma EFR•Stronger and more synchronized 35–45 Hz EFR in males compared to females•Individual gamma frequency derived from EFRs did not differ between sexes•No topographic lateralization observed in gamma EFRs

Auditory chirp-like click stimulus covering 30–60 Hz elicits frontocentral gamma EFR

Stronger and more synchronized 35–45 Hz EFR in males compared to females

Individual gamma frequency derived from EFRs did not differ between sexes

No topographic lateralization observed in gamma EFRs

Neuroscience; Sensory neuroscience; Cognitive neuroscience