ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the importance of identifying the need for research into directly or indirectly sex-based differences from biologic, educational, social/cultural and policy perspectives. Sex differences may also influence brain metabolic and plasma catecholamine responses to α2-adrenoceptor blockade. Sex differences exist in the pathophysiology and outcome of central nervous system insult with the brains of females consistently exhibiting less damage compared to their male counterparts. Military studies of training-related injuries have identified shared and sex-specific intrinsic risk factors. Gender and sex constitute substantial determinants of brain injury incidence. The evolution of sports and physical fitness in America involves two separate histories based on the sex and gender of the participants. Gender and sex differences reflect an important fundamental variable in human research and should be considered when designing and analyzing basic and clinical research.
