Winter School "Sex Hormones and the Brain"

31/01/2018 to 02/02/2018

To be female or male is one of the most important biological determinants of life with critical consequences on several aspects ranging from cognitive and emotional behavior to human health. Consequently, sex hormone levels differ between women and men and exert organizing effects on brain structure and function prenatally. However, sex hormones also have life-long active effects on human behavior and the brain. Yet, until recently sex-related differences were almost completely neglected and brain research was mostly performed in male animals and men. Focusing on male organisms has critical consequences to human health inasmuch as studying only 50% of the population ignores the other half of humankind.
The Winter School will focus on the effects of human sex hormones on essential aspects of mental health and disease, including mood, structural and functional brain connectivity, (social) cognition, metabolism and gender. Leading international researchers will present their work during four designated symposia and poster sessions.