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Sexual orientation and the auditory system

Dennis McFadden1

  • 1Department of Psychology and Center for Perceptual Systems, 1 University Station A8000, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712-0187, USA. mcfadden@psy.utexas.edu

Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology
|February 12, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal androgen exposure influences the auditory system and sexual orientation. Differences in auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) and otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are linked to sex and sexual orientation, suggesting early developmental effects.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Auditory Science

Background:

  • The auditory system shows sex-based differences, with implications for prenatal development influenced by androgens.
  • Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are weaker in males than females from birth, a difference persisting throughout life.
  • Auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) also display early-life sex differences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of prenatal androgens on auditory system development and sexual orientation.
  • To explore sex and sexual orientation differences in auditory function.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) in infants and adults.
  • Measurement of auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) across different sexes and sexual orientations.
  • Review of research on non-human models with altered androgen exposure.

Main Results:

  • OAEs in nonheterosexual females are weaker than in heterosexual females, suggesting atypical prenatal androgen exposure.
  • Specific AEPs differ between heterosexual and nonheterosexual individuals of both sexes.
  • Animal studies indicate prenatal androgen exposure can "masculinize" OAEs.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal androgen exposure appears to impact both the auditory system and sexual orientation.
  • These findings suggest a potential biological link between early androgenic activity, auditory development, and sexual orientation.

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