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Testosterone administration reduces empathetic behavior: a facial mimicry study.
Erno Jan Hermans1, Peter Putman, Jack van Honk
1Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands. e.hermans@fss.uu.nl
Psychoneuroendocrinology
|June 14, 2006
Summary
Testosterone administration in women reduced facial mimicry, a key indicator of empathy. This study provides causal evidence linking testosterone to empathy by demonstrating its effect on facial expression mimicry.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Social Neuroscience
- Psychology
Background:
- Correlational studies suggest a link between high testosterone and lower empathy.
- Causal evidence for this association in humans is lacking.
- Facial expression mimicry is a validated, non-invasive measure of empathy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal relationship between testosterone levels and empathy in humans.
- To determine if experimentally manipulated testosterone levels affect facial expression mimicry.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study was conducted.
- 20 healthy female participants received either testosterone or placebo sublingually.
- Facial electromyography measured responses to happy and angry facial expressions 4 hours post-administration.
Main Results:
- Testosterone administration significantly decreased facial mimicry.
- This effect was observed in response to both happy and angry facial expressions.
Conclusions:
- Testosterone causally influences facial expression mimicry, a key component of empathy.
- Findings support models where mimicry is crucial for empathy development and communication.
- This provides a potential neuroendocrine mechanism for testosterone's effects on empathy.