Abstract
The present study aimed at investigating the role of sex hormones in individual differences in cognitive abilities. This was achieved by a combination of two methods, reflecting 2 critical periods of hormonal secretion: prenatal, based on the 2D:4D ratio, and postnatal, based on circulating hormone levels. Both methods were tested in 39 men and 41 women, who completed a battery of 6 cognitive tasks. Results showed significant sex differences on the mental rotation task, with men outperforming women. A positive correlation was found between testosterone and performance on the mental rotation task for the combined sample (men and women). A significant interaction was found between sex and estrogen on mental rotation task. Findings also revealed a significant interaction between sex and right hand 2D:4D ratio on different memory tasks. Findings regarding between- and within-sex differences in cognition are discussed in light of the organisational and activational effects of sex hormones.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 497-507 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of Cognitive Psychology |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 19 May 2017 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Keywords
- 2D:4D
- cognitive abilities
- sex differences
- Sex hormones
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology