Fig. 1.

The genetic mechanisms that underlie attention and impulsivity in both the healthy and the neuropsychiatric population. The expression of sex linked genes including SRY, STS and MAOA are sexually dimorphic (SRY is only expressed in males and STS has a higher expression in females). As a consequence, sex differences may occur in their neural expression or indirect downstream effects on systemic gonadal hormone levels (via SRY). In turn, sexually dimorphic neurobiological alterations in cognitive-associated brain regions and neurotransmitter pathways such as dopamine, may result in sex specific nuances in attention and impulsive behaviour amongst the healthy population, but also the differences within the neuropsychiatric population.