The impact of sex hormone concentrations on decision-making in females and males
Human decision-making has been frequently studied and sex differences have been reported. Interestingly, previous results of hormone concentration on decision-making are somewhat inconsistent, regarding the impact of menstrual cycle phase in women or the influence of testosterone concentration on de...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2014-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnins.2014.00352/full |
| _version_ | 1811201807158870016 |
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| author | Birgit eDerntl Birgit eDerntl Birgit eDerntl Nina ePintzinger Ilse eKryspin-Exner Veronika eSchöpf |
| author_facet | Birgit eDerntl Birgit eDerntl Birgit eDerntl Nina ePintzinger Ilse eKryspin-Exner Veronika eSchöpf |
| author_sort | Birgit eDerntl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Human decision-making has been frequently studied and sex differences have been reported. Interestingly, previous results of hormone concentration on decision-making are somewhat inconsistent, regarding the impact of menstrual cycle phase in women or the influence of testosterone concentration on decision-making in women and men. However, the influence of the female sex hormone concentration (estradiol, progesterone) and the impact of oral contraceptive intake have rarely been examined and data regarding the effect of daytime variations of male testosterone are lacking. Moreover if personality factors such as sensation seeking, impulsivity and anxiety influence decision-making, sex-specific effects, act as modulators is unclear. In the present study 71 women and 45 men were enrolled. All participants performed a novel computerized decision-making task measuring risk-taking behavior on the basis of contingencies (Haegler et al., 2010), which can be carried out several times without a learning effect. Saliva samples were collected to obtain estradiol, progesterone and testosterone levels. Additionally, all participants completed questionnaires measuring various personality factors.Data analysis revealed no sex differences in decision-making and no significant impact of testosterone concentration on behavioral performance in women or men. However, a significant negative correlation between progesterone concentration of women in the luteal phase and their performance in the risk-averse condition was obtained. Interestingly, a significant correlation between trait anxiety and decision-making occurred in females and males. Despite similar risky decision-making of women and men and no influence of testosterone concentration, menstrual cycle phase showed an effect on risk taking in women. In contrary to other studies, our findings provide rather subtle evidence for hormonal influences in decision-making, which may be primarily explained by task factors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T02:28:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a8a84c1225064141920538d241365119 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-453X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T02:28:07Z |
| publishDate | 2014-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-a8a84c1225064141920538d2413651192022-12-22T03:51:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2014-11-01810.3389/fnins.2014.00352111184The impact of sex hormone concentrations on decision-making in females and malesBirgit eDerntl0Birgit eDerntl1Birgit eDerntl2Nina ePintzinger3Ilse eKryspin-Exner4Veronika eSchöpf5RWTH Aachen UniversityJülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA BRAIN), Translational Brain MedicineResearch Center JülichUniversity of ViennaUniversity of ViennaMedical University of ViennaHuman decision-making has been frequently studied and sex differences have been reported. Interestingly, previous results of hormone concentration on decision-making are somewhat inconsistent, regarding the impact of menstrual cycle phase in women or the influence of testosterone concentration on decision-making in women and men. However, the influence of the female sex hormone concentration (estradiol, progesterone) and the impact of oral contraceptive intake have rarely been examined and data regarding the effect of daytime variations of male testosterone are lacking. Moreover if personality factors such as sensation seeking, impulsivity and anxiety influence decision-making, sex-specific effects, act as modulators is unclear. In the present study 71 women and 45 men were enrolled. All participants performed a novel computerized decision-making task measuring risk-taking behavior on the basis of contingencies (Haegler et al., 2010), which can be carried out several times without a learning effect. Saliva samples were collected to obtain estradiol, progesterone and testosterone levels. Additionally, all participants completed questionnaires measuring various personality factors.Data analysis revealed no sex differences in decision-making and no significant impact of testosterone concentration on behavioral performance in women or men. However, a significant negative correlation between progesterone concentration of women in the luteal phase and their performance in the risk-averse condition was obtained. Interestingly, a significant correlation between trait anxiety and decision-making occurred in females and males. Despite similar risky decision-making of women and men and no influence of testosterone concentration, menstrual cycle phase showed an effect on risk taking in women. In contrary to other studies, our findings provide rather subtle evidence for hormonal influences in decision-making, which may be primarily explained by task factors.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnins.2014.00352/fullEstradiolProgesteroneTestosteronedecision-makingrisk-takingSex |
| spellingShingle | Birgit eDerntl Birgit eDerntl Birgit eDerntl Nina ePintzinger Ilse eKryspin-Exner Veronika eSchöpf The impact of sex hormone concentrations on decision-making in females and males Frontiers in Neuroscience Estradiol Progesterone Testosterone decision-making risk-taking Sex |
| title | The impact of sex hormone concentrations on decision-making in females and males |
| title_full | The impact of sex hormone concentrations on decision-making in females and males |
| title_fullStr | The impact of sex hormone concentrations on decision-making in females and males |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of sex hormone concentrations on decision-making in females and males |
| title_short | The impact of sex hormone concentrations on decision-making in females and males |
| title_sort | impact of sex hormone concentrations on decision making in females and males |
| topic | Estradiol Progesterone Testosterone decision-making risk-taking Sex |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnins.2014.00352/full |
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