Evaluate the collective function of references cited together in a given text segment.
Classify their combined role into one of the following categories: 'method', 'background', or 'result'.

Text:Taken together with evidence that lesioning the MGN results in cell size reduction in male, but not female rodents, these sex-specific effects support a role of neuroendocrine systems in the development of the functional specialization of the brain (Berrebi et al., 1988; Herman et al., 1997).
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