More Neuroscience Research Articles Are Reporting Sex of Research Animals, But Sex Bias Persists
Material below summarizes the article Problems and Progress Regarding Sex Bias and Omission in Neuroscience Research, published on November 3, 2017, in eNeuro and authored by Tyler R. Will, Stephanie B. Proaño, Anly M. Thomas, Lindsey M. Kunz, Kelly C. Thompson, Laura A. Ginnari, Clay H. Jones, Sarah-Catherine Lucas, Elizabeth M. Reavis, David M. Dorris, and John Meitzen.
This study highlights the complex status of sex omission and bias in neuroscience research and provides useful information for decisions regarding policy enactment and enforcement, scientific culture, and individual action.
Historically, many neuroscience research articles either neglected to report laboratory animal sex (termed sex omission), or favored one sex over another (termed sex bias, in this case male over female). Documentation of this pattern in neuroscience and other disciplines has prompted intense debate and study, including new scientific findings and regulatory policies.
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