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How do Females and Males Differ in Neurophysiological Correlates of Impulse Control?

Kazufumi Omura and Kenji Kusumoto

Recently, we reported sex differences in neurophysiological correlates of impulse control during the early stages of stimulus evaluation using electroencephalographic recording. In the study, males showed significantly larger N2 amplitudes in the frontal area in the Nogo condition (Nogo-N2) than females; Nogo-N2 is assumed to be an index of response inhibition. Furthermore, Nogo-N2 amplitudes in the frontal area were positively correlated with attentional trait impulsivity subscale scores, but negatively correlated with executive attention subscale scores; interestingly, both correlations were observed only in males. These results suggest that attentional aspects of impulse control modulate the Nogo-N2 amplitude only in males. These sex-specific modulatory effects in inhibitory control mechanisms during early stimulus evaluation may explain why and how females and males behaviorally differ in impulse control at the neurocognitive level. The effects may provide a useful measure of impulse control deficits, which are more prevalent in males than in females. This commentary summarizes the study, placing emphasis on the outcomes of previous conventional neurophysiological studies of sex differences.