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Testosterone and the brain: from cognition to autism
D Ostatníková1, S Lakatošová, J Babková
1Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic. daniela.ostatnikova@fmed.uniba.sk.
Physiological Research
|January 19, 2021
Summary
This review explores how testosterone influences the brain, impacting sex differences in cognition and behavior. It examines these effects in healthy individuals and those with autism spectrum disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Psychology
Background:
- Human anatomy, physiology, and pathology exhibit sexual dimorphism.
- Sex differences in the brain arise from genetics, hormones like testosterone, and social factors.
- Testosterone significantly influences prenatal brain structure and postnatal brain function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the complex effects of testosterone on the brain.
- To focus on testosterone's role in sex differences in healthy individuals.
- To examine testosterone's role in sex differences within the autism spectrum.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific studies on sex differences in the brain.
- Analysis of research on testosterone's impact on neurodevelopment and function.
- Synthesis of findings related to neurotypical and autism spectrum populations.
Main Results:
- Striking sex differences in the human brain correlate with behavioral and cognitive variations.
- Cognitive sex differences are evident in spatial and language tasks.
- Testosterone's influence is crucial for understanding sex-based brain differences and their relevance to autism spectrum disorder.
Conclusions:
- Testosterone plays a critical role in shaping sex differences in brain structure and function.
- Understanding these differences is vital for both neurotypical development and the study of neuropsychiatric disorders like autism.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the intricate relationship between testosterone, brain function, and behavior across the spectrum.
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