Gender-specific resting-state rDMPFC-centric functional connectivity underpinnings of intertemporal choice

Although studies have observed gender differences in intertemporal choice, the neural bases of these differences require further research. The current study used resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) to explore the gender-specific neural basis of intertemporal choice in three independent samples (n1 = 86, n2 = 297, n3 = 172). Behaviorally, three samples (S1, S2, and S3) consistently demonstrated that men had larger delay discounting rate (log k) than women. Then, whole-brain functional connectivity analyses were performed for different genders in S2 and S3 using the right dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (rDMPFC) as a region of interest. By subtracting the common rsFC patterns of different genders, we identified gender-specific log k-related rsFC patterns with significant gender differences in S2. This was verified in an independent sample (S3). Specifically, in women, log k was found to be positively correlated with the rsFC between rDMPFC and anterior cingulate cortex/right orbitofrontal cortex. In contrast, in men, log k was negatively correlated with rsFC between rDMPFC and left orbitofrontal cortex/right precuneus. These gender differences were confirmed by slope tests. The findings highlight how gender may differ when engaging in intertemporal choice. They improve the understanding of gender differences in decision impulsivity and its underlying neural bases.