Bridging the Gap: Sex/Gender, Neuroscience, and Diversity in Brain Research

Although AI has increasingly dominated scientific research, neuroscience continues to captivate both academic and public interest. A central question remains: how does biological ‘sex’ influence behavior, cognition, and communication? Publications exploring why women and men may think, feel, act, or speak differently are still widespread. This topic becomes particularly controversial when human behavior is directly linked to brain structures and functions. In this talk, I will explore how sex/gender are categorized, studied, and interpreted in (f)MRI research, which examines structural and functional differences in male and female brains. The inclusion of other gender identities in these studies will also be discussed, focusing on how they are measured, perceived, and represented within the field. The implications of this research will be explored, along with a consideration of what 'queerness' in neuroscience might look like. I will address how the concept of diversity is being integrated into neuroscience, particularly through AI-driven methods that emphasize multiplicity. While these technologies highlight human diversity, they have not yet solved persistent issues such as the gender pay gap in STEM fields or the underrepresentation of women in scientific careers. At the core of my research lies a transdisciplinary perspective that integrates Neuroscience and Gender Studies. Within neuroscience, sex and gender are often treated as fixed biological variables, while in Gender Studies, they are seen as social constructs shaped by human action and societal structures. My aim is to bridge the gap between these two perspectives and foster a more nuanced understanding of how gender functions in the complex landscape of brain research.