In modern neuroscience, voxel-based-morphometry (VBM) is a widely used tool. VBM involves the creation of spatially normalized images in which the intensity of each voxel relates to the local volume of a brain tissue, most commonly gray matter. The technique has been extensively applied in different areas of neurological research. As an example, VBM research has recently been applied to topics such as: schizophrenia [1],bipolar disorder [2], amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [3], Parkinson’s Disease [4], Huntington’s Disease [5], and Alzheimer’s Disease [6]. Although hormones are known...

MRI protocol All MR examinations were obtained with a 32-channel phased array head coil on a 3T scanner (Magnetom Trio Tim, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany). High resolution anatomical T1-weighted images were acquired with a magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo (MP-RAGE) sequence in the axial plane (176 slices, 1 mm isotropic resolution, field-of-view: 256 mm x 192 mm; repetition time TR: 1910 ms; echo time TE: 3.37 ms; flip angle: 15°). Subjects A total of 75 healthy young women, with no history of neurological of psychiatric illness,...

VBM findings in the HC groups When comparing both HC groups in the active pill-phase, large bilateral clusters in the putamen, lentiform nucleus and insula show a larger gray matter volume in the HC-A group. These clusters turn unilateral in the inactive pill-phase (Fig. 2). Further results of differences, with MNI coordinates, are listed in Table 1. X (mm) Y (mm) Z (mm) # voxels t-value Active > Inactive HC-A Cingulate gyrus -3 3 28.5 40 4.96 Insula 34.5 -28.5 13.5 33 4.02 Active <...

Comparing both HC groups, bilateral clusters of local GM volume differences in the putamen, lentiform nucleus and insula, suggest a larger gray matter volume in the HC-A group as compared to the HC-B group, during active pill phase. These clusters are largest in the active pill-phase, and appear to fade away in the inactive pill-phase, suggesting a differential short-term effect ofthe type of hormones contained in the HC. When comparing active to inactive pill-phases, our results indicate that some structures in the limbic system show...

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[1] Rosa PG, Zanetti MV, Duran FL, Santos LC, Menezes PR, Scazufca M, et al. What determines continuing grey matter changes in first-episode schizophrenia and affective psychosis? Psychological medicine. 2014:1-12. Epub 2014/09/03. [2] Oertel-Knochel V, Reinke B, Feddern R, Knake A, Knochel C, Prvulovic D, et al. Episodic memory impairments in bipolar disorder are associated with functional and structural brain changes. Bipolar disorders. 2014;16(8):830-45. Epub 2014/08/29. [3] Tan RH, Devenney E, Dobson-Stone C, Kwok JB, Hodges JR, Kiernan MC, et al. Cerebellar integrity in the...