Project lead
| Prof. MA Lei | |
E-mail address: malei@cpu.edu.cn CV： |
The significance of gender differences in emotional processing, social behavior regulation, and disease susceptibility is increasingly recognized. Extensive research suggests that significant differences exist between males and females in the generation mechanisms, expression styles, and regulation strategies of negative emotions like anger. These differences not only influence individual mental health and social behavior patterns but may also be linked to distinct neurobiological foundations and endocrine system regulation. Therefore, this project intends to use gender differences in emotions as an entry point, integrating research methods from neuroscience, psychology, and pharmacology to systematically explore the mechanistic basis of anger generation and responses to group incentives in individuals of different genders. Furthermore, it will investigate gender specificity from the dimensions of drug targets, pharmacological efficacy, and in vivo metabolism, providing a scientific basis for precision medicine and gender-friendly intervention strategies.
This project will focus specifically on the generation and expression of anger. Existing studies indicate that males are more inclined towards aggressive, externalizing expressions of anger, whereas females are more likely to exhibit internalizing, relational aggression, or emotional suppression. We plan to employ novel behavioral paradigms, emotion induction tasks, and functional brain imaging techniques to analyze neural circuit differences between the sexes in response to anger-inducing stimuli, paying particular attention to functional connectivity differences involving the amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, and prefrontal cortex. Additionally, we will compare the regulatory roles of sex hormones, such as testosterone and estrogen, in anger responses, exploring the dynamic impact of hormonal fluctuations on emotion regulation.
Furthermore, regarding group incentives, this project aims to explore response differences between genders when facing group pressure, collective goals, and social reward mechanisms. By simulating cooperative/competitive tasks combined with neural activity measurements, we will analyze how gender influences an individual's behavioral performance within a team.
In terms of mechanistic extension, our laboratory is equipped to conduct in-depth research on drug targets and mechanisms of pharmacological action. This project will further focus on: expression changes of emotion-regulating drugs (e.g., anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications) across different genders, investigating gender-specific regulation in systems such as 5-HT, GABA, and the HPA axis. This work will lay the groundwork for future gender-stratified medication guidance and personalized treatment.
Team Members：
Ershu He
Ruohan Yan
Sike Sun
Liwen Songxing
