LAUSR

Key Points Question Do differences in cognition reflect differences in brain connectivity between boys and girls in late childhood? Findings In this cross-sectional neuroimaging study of 8961 children aged 9 to 11 years, compared with boys, girls had higher global functional connectivity density in posterior cingulate cortex that increased in proportion to cognitive performance and lower mean diffusivity in superior corticostriatal white matter bundles, which decreased in proportion to increased cognitive performance. In mediation analyses, global functional connectivity density and mean diffusivity fully mediated the sex differences in cognitive performance. Meaning These findings suggest that the sex differences in cognitive performance and brain connectivity in this study likely reflect faster brain maturation in girls than boys.