TY - JOUR
T1 - Sex differences in resting-state fMRI functional connectivity related to humor styles
AU - Chang, Chia Yueh
AU - Chan, Yu Chen
AU - Chen, I. Fei
AU - Chen, Hsueh Chih
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Authors
PY - 2025/1
Y1 - 2025/1
N2 - Research on how functional connectivity (FC) during resting-state relates to humor styles and sex is limited. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap by analyzing resting-state fMRI data from 56 healthy participants and measuring FC. In addition, participants completed the Humor Styles Questionnaire. We found distinct FC patterns linked to humor styles that differed by sex. Men demonstrated stronger FC between the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the right anterior insula (rAI), right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) and right frontal pole (rFP), and between the right rostral prefrontal cortex (rRPFC) and rIFG. These patterns were associated with aggressive and self-enhancing humor. Conversely, women exhibited stronger FC between rRPFC and the posterior cingulate gyrus (PCC), left rostral prefrontal cortex (lRPFC) and right thalamus, correlating with self-defeating and less aggressive humor. These findings suggest a neurobiological basis for sex differences in humor, indicating that men's FC between the salience network (SN), particularly in cognitive monitoring regions, may be linked to aggressive humor. Their FC between the executive control network (ECN) and between the SN and ECN are related to self-enhancing humor and reflect an emphasis on executive function. Conversely, women's FC between the SN and default mode network is correlated with self-defeating humor, suggesting a stronger focus on self-reflection and social relationships.
AB - Research on how functional connectivity (FC) during resting-state relates to humor styles and sex is limited. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap by analyzing resting-state fMRI data from 56 healthy participants and measuring FC. In addition, participants completed the Humor Styles Questionnaire. We found distinct FC patterns linked to humor styles that differed by sex. Men demonstrated stronger FC between the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the right anterior insula (rAI), right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) and right frontal pole (rFP), and between the right rostral prefrontal cortex (rRPFC) and rIFG. These patterns were associated with aggressive and self-enhancing humor. Conversely, women exhibited stronger FC between rRPFC and the posterior cingulate gyrus (PCC), left rostral prefrontal cortex (lRPFC) and right thalamus, correlating with self-defeating and less aggressive humor. These findings suggest a neurobiological basis for sex differences in humor, indicating that men's FC between the salience network (SN), particularly in cognitive monitoring regions, may be linked to aggressive humor. Their FC between the executive control network (ECN) and between the SN and ECN are related to self-enhancing humor and reflect an emphasis on executive function. Conversely, women's FC between the SN and default mode network is correlated with self-defeating humor, suggesting a stronger focus on self-reflection and social relationships.
KW - Functional connectivity
KW - Humor styles
KW - Rs-fMRI
KW - Salience networks
KW - Sex differences
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U2 - 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2025.108983
DO - 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2025.108983
M3 - Article
C2 - 39793726
AN - SCOPUS:85214820986
SN - 0301-0511
VL - 194
JO - Biological Psychology
JF - Biological Psychology
M1 - 108983
ER -