Sex differences in auditory subcortical function

ObjectiveSex differences have been demonstrated in the peripheral auditory system as well as in higher-level cognitive processing. Here, we aimed to determine if the subcortical response to a complex auditory stimulus is encoded differently between the sexes.MethodsUsing electrophysiological techniques, we assessed the auditory brainstem response to a synthesized stop-consonant speech syllable [da] in 76 native-English speaking, young adults (38 female). Timing and frequency components of the response were compared between males and females to determine which aspects of the response are affected by sex.ResultsA dissimilarity between males and females was seen in the neural response to the components of the speech stimulus that change rapidly over time; but not in the slower changing, lower frequency information in the stimulus. We demonstrate that, in agreement with the click-evoked brainstem response, females have earlier peaks relative to males in the subcomponents of the response representing the onset of the speech sound. In contrast, the response peaks comprising the frequency-following response, which encode the fundamental frequency (F0) of the stimulus, as well as the spectral amplitude of the response to the F0, is not affected by sex. Notably, the higher-frequency elements of the speech syllable are encoded differently between males and females, with females having greater representation of spectrotemporal information for frequencies above the F0.ConclusionsOur results provide a baseline for interpreting the higher incidence of language impairment (e.g. dyslexia, autism, specific language impairment) in males, and the subcortical deficits associated with these disorders.SignificanceThese results parallel the subcortical encoding patterns that are documented for good and poor readers in that poor readers differ from good readers on encoding fast but not slow components of speech. This parallel may thus help to explain the higher incidence of reading impairment in males compared to females.

► Male and female young adults have measurably different neural responses to speech; to the fast acoustic components of speech, female responses are generally earlier and more robust than male responses. ► The differences observed between males and females in the nervous system’s response to speech parallel those previously reported for poor, relative to good, readers. ► These sex differences provide a baseline for interpreting the higher incidence of language impairment in males, and the neural deficits associated with these disorders.