Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making
Published on: March 2, 2011
Foetal testosterone, social relationships, and restricted interests in children
Rebecca Knickmeyer1, Simon Baron-Cohen, Peter Raggatt
1Autism Research Centre, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK. rk250@cam.ac.uk
Background:
Sex-differences exist in some areas of human social behaviour. In animals, foetal testosterone (fT) plays a central role in organising the brain and in later social behaviour. fT has also been implicated in language development, eye-contact, and spatial ability in humans.
Methods:
Fifty-eight children (35 male and 23 female), whose fT was analysed in amniotic fluid, were followed up at age 4. Their mothers completed the Children's Communication Checklist, a questionnaire assessing language, quality of social relationships and restricted interests.
Results:
fT was negatively correlated to quality of social relationships, taking sex-differences into account. fT was also positively correlated with restricted interests in boys.
Conclusions:
These findings implicate fT in both social development and attentional focus. They may also have implications for understanding the sex ratio in autism.
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