Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 30, 2026
Combining Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and fMRI to Examine the Default Mode Network
Published on: December 28, 2010
Testosterone modulation of default mode network and its effects on cognitive function and mood in humans: a
Daria Malich1, Andrii Vasylyshyn2
1Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
Testosterone exerts widespread effects on brain structure and function, yet its influence on large-scale neural networks, particularly the default mode network (DMN), remains poorly understood. The role of the DMN in self-referential processing, social cognition, and mood regulation has been demonstrated over the last decade. Neuroimaging studies suggest a link between testosterone and large-scale brain networks, particularly the DMN, in cognitive function and mood domains. A systematic search of the PubMed database was conducted from March to April 2026, restricted to human neuroimaging studies published within the past 15 years, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A total of 10 studies were included in this review. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2, the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, the NIH Quality Assessment Tool, and the AXIS tool, selected according to study design. Testosterone-related DMN alterations were observed across key self-referential hubs, including the medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, precuneus, and angular gyrus. Effects were highly sex-specific, developmental stage-dependent, and sensitive to the form and magnitude of androgen exposure. Testosterone levels were mostly linked to changes in affective reactivity and self-referential processing, including aggression modulation and body self-identification. Overall, testosterone-related modulation of DMN connectivity appears to be highly context dependent, with functional consequences predominantly affecting self-referential and affective domains rather than externally oriented cognition. The high heterogeneity of the included studies, alongside the absence of wider hormonal profiling in many studies, constrains causal inference. Future research should prioritize randomized longitudinal designs with comprehensive hormonal assessment and balanced sex representation to clarify the therapeutic relevance of testosterone-related DMN modulation.
Systematic Review Registration:
Identifier: CRD420261368147.
