A new study has revealed that hundreds of genes in the male and female brain are expressed differently. According to scientists, these variations may help explain certain differences in how the nervous system functions and why men and women show different susceptibilities to specific diseases, The Conversation reports.

Researchers from Columbia University Medical Center analyzed thousands of postmortem brain tissue samples and compared gene activity between the sexes. They found that more than 650 genes behave differently — some are more active in men, others in women. These genes are linked to metabolic processes, nerve signal transmission, and immune system function within the brain.

The scientists emphasize that this does not imply a simplistic notion of a “male” or “female” brain. Rather, the findings suggest that brain biology is shaped by a complex interplay of factors, including hormones, chromosomes, and even lifestyle.

The results could help develop more precise diagnostic and treatment approaches for neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and autism, which often manifest differently in men and women.

“Our data show how finely tuned brain function is, and how crucial it is to consider biological sex when studying it,” the study authors noted.