Psychoneuroendocrine protocol to comprehensively study sexually dimorphic cognition.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Cognitive abilities exhibit sex differences, influenced by biological sex and psychosocial gender.
• Research on the magnitude of these effects on cognition and mental health is mixed.
• Assessing sex hormones and psychosocial gender is crucial for understanding individual cognitive differences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of sex hormones on cognitive performance using a specialized battery.
• To examine the combined effects of biological sex and psychosocial gender on cognition and mental health.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 180 adults will be recruited, stratified by sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
• Salivary samples will measure sex hormones (testosterone, estradiol, progesterone) and cortisol.
• Participants will complete cognitive tasks and self-report questionnaires on demographics and psychosocial factors.

Main Results:

• The study will offer novel insights into the factors underlying cognitive sex differences.
• Findings will illuminate the relationship between sex hormones, gender, and cognitive performance.
• This research will provide a foundation for studying altered hormone and cognitive function in clinical groups.

Conclusions:

• This research will enhance understanding of cognitive sex differences and gender diversity.
• It lays the groundwork for future clinical investigations involving hormonal and cognitive alterations.