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Yan Z, Liu X, Liu H, Xu H, Liu Y, Li C, Wang B, Cui S, Jia T, Yang D, Zhang C, Liu X, Buesching CD, Liu D. Assessment of stress levels and reproductive condition in giant pandas: insights from hair, faecal and saliva samples. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 12:coae044. [PMID: 38962510 PMCID: PMC11221559 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coae044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Concerted conservation efforts have brought the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) back from the brink of extinction, but pandas continue to face anthropogenic threats in the wild and breeding success in captivity remains low. Because stress can have detrimental impacts on reproduction, monitoring stress- and sex-steroid levels would help assess the effectiveness of conservation mitigation measures in panda populations as well as monitor the welfare and reproductive health of captive animals. In this proof-of-concept study, we used faecal sex steroid and cortisol concentrations (n = 867 samples collected from five males and five females at Beijing Zoo every 4 days over the course of 12 months) as a reference to investigate if testosterone, estradiol, progesterone and cortisol can be meaningfully measured in panda hair (n = 10) using radio-immuno-assays. Additionally, we calculated the ratio of testosterone to cortisol (T:C ratio) for each male, which can provide a biomarker of stress and physical performance. Our findings revealed distinct monthly variations in faecal sex-steroid and cortisol concentrations, reflecting reproductive seasonality and visitor-related stress among individual pandas. Notably, the oldest male had a significantly lower T:C ratio than other males. Our results confirm that the level of sex steroids and cortisol can be assayed by panda hair, and the hair cortisol concentrations correlate significantly with that in faeces with one month lag behind (r = 0.68, P = 0.03). However, the concentrations of hormones detected in saliva are lower than those in faeces by two orders of magnitude, making it difficult to ensure accuracy. By assessing the applicability of hair, faecal and salivary sampling, we can infer their utility in monitoring the reproductive status and acute and chronic stress levels of giant pandas, thereby providing a means to gauge the success of ongoing habitat restoration efforts and to discuss the feasibility of sample collection from wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Yan
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Ecological Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, No.19, Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Xiaoyan Liu
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Ecological Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, No.19, Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Haoqiu Liu
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Ecological Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, No.19, Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Haihong Xu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, No.137, Xizhimenwai Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Yanhui Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, No.137, Xizhimenwai Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Changqing Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, No.137, Xizhimenwai Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, No.137, Xizhimenwai Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Shengnan Cui
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, No.137, Xizhimenwai Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Ting Jia
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, No.137, Xizhimenwai Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Di Yang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, No.137, Xizhimenwai Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Chenglin Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, No.137, Xizhimenwai Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Xuefeng Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, No.137, Xizhimenwai Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Christina D Buesching
- Department of Biology, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Dingzhen Liu
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Ecological Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, No.19, Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
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Cabral JC, Garcia CM, Solano M, de Almeida RMM. More than a feeling: Effects of competitive asymmetry on human emotions. THE JOURNAL OF GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 150:485-511. [PMID: 36579926 DOI: 10.1080/00221309.2022.2160427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Competitive interactions have important effects on human emotions. Both victory and defeat can evoke a wide range of emotional reactions, including joy, pride, anger, fear, sadness and shame. However, little is known about what determines this variety of contestants' affective responses. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of competitive asymmetry, a common and ecologically relevant feature of animal conflicts, on human emotional responses to winning or losing a contest. To test this hypothesis, we conducted two experiments, the first with high school students (n = 331) and the second with young athletes (n = 73), in which we manipulated the outcomes of successive matches in a non-athletic competition. Thus, by inducing the competitors' scores, ranging from closer to more decisive outcomes, we were able to define the degree of competitive asymmetry in victory and defeat conditions. We then assessed participants' emotional responses to a set of affective stimuli. In the defeat condition, we found in both studies an increase in the occurrence of anger and fear due to more symmetric contests. There were also more frequent reports of shame following more decisive defeats (Experiment 1) and of pride following closer victories (Experiment 2), which were seen neither for sadness nor joy in any of the studies. Supporting our hypothesis, emotional reactions triggered by asymmetries among contestants were consistent with the behavioral patterns commonly seen in symmetric and asymmetric animal conflict, such as dominance/aggressive and defensive/escape behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Centurion Cabral
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)
- Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG)
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El Ahdab J, Khachan MJ, Richa S, Raad G. A comprehensive review on the role of testosterone on the neurobehavioral systems implicated in the reinforcement sensitivity theory of personality. L'ENCEPHALE 2023; 49:174-184. [PMID: 36411119 DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2022.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) is a neuropsychological theory of personality emphasizing approach and avoidance as the two core behavioral aspects. Approach is represented by the behavioral approach system (BAS). Avoidance is represented by the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and the fight-flight-freeze system (FFFS). Although the influence of testosterone on human behavior has been demonstrated, few studies have investigated the relation between testosterone and the RST. The aim of this narrative review was to decipher the possible role of testosterone on the biological systems involved in the RST in humans. METHODS Google scholar, PubMed, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, Scopus and Cochrane library databases were interrogated using keywords such as testosterone, BIS, BAS, FFFS, personality, reinforcement sensitivity theory. RESULTS Seven original articles, published between 2009 and 2022, assessing the relation between testosterone and the systems implicated in the RST, were included. The results of these studies suggested the presence of a possible positive relation between testosterone and the BAS. However, the impact of testosterone on the BIS and/or FFFS seems to be less clear. DISCUSSION The consistency in the results supporting the presence of a positive relation between testosterone and the BAS might lead to the consideration of testosterone as a potential correlate in the clinical assessment of several psychopathologies. The inconsistency in the conclusions regarding the impact of testosterone on the BIS and/or the FFFS might be attributed to the different questionnaires used as measurement tools. Additional research remains needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J El Ahdab
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh, Lebanon
| | - M-J Khachan
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh, Lebanon
| | - S Richa
- Psychiatry Department, University Hospital, Hôtel Dieu de France, Beirut, Lebanon; Faculty of Medicine, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - G Raad
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh, Lebanon; Al-Hadi laboratory and medical center, Beirut, Lebanon.
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Casto KV, Prasad S, Josephs RA, Zilioli S, Welker K, Maslov A, Jones AC, Mehta PH. No Compelling Evidence that Self-Reported Personality Traits Explain Basal Testosterone and Cortisol’s Associations with Status-Relevant Behavior. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-023-00210-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Objective
A goal of behavioral neuroendocrinology is to understand how basal hormone levels relate to behavior. Studies of human participants sometimes measure self-reported personality traits, in addition to or instead of direct behavioral observation. Although personality traits often predict their respective behaviors, whether personality explains hormone-behavior relationships remains unclear.
Methods
We obtained data from eight previous studies (total N = 985) that examined baseline testosterone and cortisol as predictors of status-relevant behavior (competitiveness, dominance, risk-taking, aggression, affiliation, and social status). We tested whether the previously reported hormone-behavior relationships are mediated by self-reported personality traits (e.g., trait dominance, prestige, extraversion). As a secondary research question, we also tested whether trait dominance moderated the testosterone-behavior relationships.
Results
As expected, self-reported personality traits often predicted status-relevant behaviors, but there was little evidence that traits also correlated with basal testosterone or the testosterone × cortisol interaction. Across all eight studies, personality traits did not significantly mediate hormone-behavior relationships. Indeed, the effect sizes of the hormone-behavior relationships were robust to the inclusion of personality traits as covariates. Further, we did not find strong or consistent evidence that trait dominance moderates the testosterone-behavior association.
Conclusion
Results suggest that basal testosterone and cortisol predict status-related behavior independent of self-reported personality. We discuss how these results may have broader implications for the physiological mechanisms by which testosterone and cortisol influence behavior, a process that could be unconscious and automatic. We also discuss alternative explanations, limitations, and future directions.
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Nagy Z, Karsai I, Nagy T, Kátai E, Miseta A, Fazekas G, Láng A, Kocsor F, Kállai J. Reward Dependence-Moderated Noradrenergic and Hormonal Responses During Noncompetitive and Competitive Physical Activities. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:763220. [PMID: 35558438 PMCID: PMC9087724 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.763220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to reveal whether increased reward dependence (RD) plays a role in the catecholamine neurotransmitter release and testosterone hormone regulation during physical activities among healthy trained participants. Twenty-two male participants (mean age: 40.27 ± 5.4 years) participated in this study. Two conditions were constructed, namely, a noncompetitive and a competitive running task (RT), which were separated by a 2-week interval. Urine and blood samples were collected prior to and following the running tasks. Noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (A), dopamine (D), and their metabolites, vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and homovanillic acid (HVA), were measured from urine, while testosterone levels were analyzed from blood samples. RD was assessed using the Cloninger's Personality Inventory (PI). Mental health was evaluated using the WHO Well-Being, Beck Depression, and Perceived Life Stress Questionnaires. According to our findings, levels of NA, A, D, VMA, and testosterone released underwent an increase following physical exertion, independently from the competitive condition of the RT, while HVA levels experienced a decrease. However, we found that testosterone levels showed a significantly lower tendency to elevate in the competitive RT, compared with the noncompetitive condition (p = 0.02). In contrast, HVA values were higher in the competitive compared with the noncompetitive condition (p = 0.031), both before and after the exercise. Considering the factor RD, in noncompetitive RT, its higher values were associated with elevated NA levels (p = 0.007); however, this correlation could not be detected during the competitive condition (p = 0.233). Among male runners, the NA and testosterone levels could be predicted to the degree of RD by analyzing competitive and noncompetitive physical exercises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsófia Nagy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Sport and Medicine Research Group, Regenerative Science, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - István Karsai
- Sports and Physical Education Center, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Tamás Nagy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Emese Kátai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Attila Miseta
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gábor Fazekas
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - András Láng
- Institute of Psychology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Kocsor
- Institute of Psychology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - János Kállai
- Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
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6
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Chang Y. Effects of Game Situation-Dependent Emotions on Sport Spectators' Food Craving. Front Psychol 2021; 12:724220. [PMID: 34867604 PMCID: PMC8637198 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.724220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This study sought to challenge prevalent accounts of emotional eating by exploring the effects of situation-dependent emotions on consumers’ food craving. Four specific game situations in the context of spectator sports, each corresponding to the four types of emotional coping (outcome-desire conflict, avoidance, fulfillment, and pursuit), were identified as follows: decisive victories, decisive losses, close victories, and close losses. By employing laboratory-based virtual reality spectatorship, Study 1 tested the causal effects of happiness (fulfillment), anger (conflict), sadness (conflict), fear (avoidance), and hope (pursuit) on food craving. Study 2 further designed fans’ previous association between emotions and eating as a moderating mechanism in the context of online sport viewership. The results of the two experiments supported the three theoretical principles of eating behavior, including the “food as fuel” principle of anger, the hedonic eating principle of happiness, and the self-regulation principle of hope. However, the results rejected the escape awareness principle of sadness and fear. The study concludes with a discussion of context-dependent emotional positioning and intervention strategies for marketers and policy makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghwan Chang
- Department of Sport Management, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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7
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Carpe diem: winner and loser effects are constrained to same-day competitions in collegiate baseball. J ETHOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-021-00728-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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8
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Kutlikova HH, Geniole SN, Eisenegger C, Lamm C, Jocham G, Studer B. Not giving up: Testosterone promotes persistence against a stronger opponent. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 128:105214. [PMID: 33836382 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Recent research suggests that when we lack a sense of control, we are prone to motivational failures and early quitting in competitions. Testosterone, on the other hand, is thought to boost competitiveness. Here we investigate the interaction between these factors, testing the testosterone's potential to enhance persistence in a competition against a stronger opponent, depending on experimentally manipulated perceived control. Healthy participants were administered a single dose of testosterone or placebo. They first underwent a task designed to either induce low or high perceived control and then entered a costly competition against a progressively stronger opponent that they could quit at any time. In the placebo group, men with low perceived control quitted twice as early as those with high perceived control. Testosterone countered this effect, making individuals with low control persist in the competition for as long as those with high perceived control, and did so also despite raising participants' explicit awareness of the opponents' advantage. This psychoendocrinological effect was not modulated by basal cortisol levels, CAG repeat polymorphism of the androgen receptor gene, or trait dominance. Our results provide the first causal evidence that testosterone promotes competitive persistence in humans and demonstrate that this effect depends on the psychological state elicited prior to the competition, broadening our understanding of the complex relationships between testosterone and social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana H Kutlikova
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Biopsychology Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria; Department of Behavioural Neuroscience, Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Sienkiewiczova 1, 813 71 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Shawn N Geniole
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Biopsychology Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria; Department of Psychology, University of the Fraser Valley, 33844 King Road, Abbotsford V2S 7M8, Canada.
| | - Christoph Eisenegger
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Biopsychology Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria
| | - Claus Lamm
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Biopsychology Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria; Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Gerhard Jocham
- Biological Psychology of Decision Making, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Bettina Studer
- Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 140225 Düsseldorf, Germany; Mauritius Hospital Meerbusch, Strümper Straße 111, 40670 Meerbusch, Germany.
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9
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Casto KV, Edwards DA, Akinola M, Davis C, Mehta PH. Testosterone reactivity to competition and competitive endurance in men and women. Horm Behav 2020; 123:104665. [PMID: 31904360 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Revised: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Transient shifts in testosterone occur during competition and are thought to positively influence dominance behavior aimed at enhancing social status. However, individual differences in testosterone reactivity to status contests have not been well-studied in relation to real-time expressions of competitive behavior among men and women. This research tests the association between changes in endogenous testosterone levels during competition and performance in terms of competitive endurance. Participant sex, social presence, and relative status outcomes (e.g., winning vs. losing) are tested as moderators of this relationship. In two studies, men and women (total N = 398) competed in the competitive will task (timed weight-holding) either individually or in the presence of an opponent (Study 1) or as a team with and without the presence of a competitor team (Study 2). Results showed a positive relationship between testosterone reactivity and performance for men, particularly those who won or ranked highest among their group - with increasing testosterone predicting better performance and decreasing testosterone predicting worse performance. For women, the effect only emerged among individuals who competed in dyads and lost. In Study 2, an exploratory mediation analysis revealed that individual differences in trait dominance predicted both testosterone reactivity to competition and task performance, with testosterone reactivity (moderated by sex and status outcome) partially explaining the direct relationship between dominance-related traits and behavior. Our goal was to examine testosterone reactivity in relation to real-time competitive effort and highlight the potential role of this relationship in explaining how individual differences in trait dominance produce competitive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- K V Casto
- Social Sciences Division, New College of Florida, United States of America; Department of Psychology, Emory University, United States of America; Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, United States of America; US Army CCDC Soldier Center, United States of America.
| | - D A Edwards
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, United States of America
| | - M Akinola
- Columbia Business School, Columbia University, United States of America
| | - C Davis
- US Army CCDC Soldier Center, United States of America
| | - P H Mehta
- Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, United States of America; Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London, United Kingdom
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10
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Knight EL, Sarkar A, Prasad S, Mehta PH. Beyond the challenge hypothesis: The emergence of the dual-hormone hypothesis and recommendations for future research. Horm Behav 2020; 123:104657. [PMID: 31863735 PMCID: PMC7311256 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The challenge hypothesis makes specific predictions about the association between testosterone and status-seeking behaviors, but the findings linking testosterone to these behaviors are often inconsistent. The dual-hormone hypothesis was developed to help explain these inconsistencies. Specifically, according to this hypothesis, testosterone's association with status-seeking behavior depends on levels of cortisol. Here, we (1) describe the dual-hormone hypothesis in relation to the challenge hypothesis; (2) review recent studies that tested the dual-hormone hypothesis as well as meta-scientific evidence of heterogeneous dual-hormone findings across studies; (3) discuss potential explanations for this heterogeneity, including methodological considerations, contextual factors, and individual differences; and (4) provide recommendations for new work aimed at testing and extending the dual-hormone hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik L Knight
- Center for Healthy Aging, Pennsylvania State University, United States of America; Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, United States of America.
| | - Amar Sarkar
- Trinity College, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom; Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Smrithi Prasad
- Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, United States of America
| | - Pranjal H Mehta
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London, United Kingdom
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11
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Geniole SN, Bird BM, McVittie JS, Purcell RB, Archer J, Carré JM. Is testosterone linked to human aggression? A meta-analytic examination of the relationship between baseline, dynamic, and manipulated testosterone on human aggression. Horm Behav 2020; 123:104644. [PMID: 31785281 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Testosterone is often considered a critical regulator of aggressive behaviour. There is castration/replacement evidence that testosterone indeed drives aggression in some species, but causal evidence in humans is generally lacking and/or-for the few studies that have pharmacologically manipulated testosterone concentrations-inconsistent. More often researchers have examined differences in baseline testosterone concentrations between groups known to differ in aggressiveness (e.g., violent vs non-violent criminals) or within a given sample using a correlational approach. Nevertheless, testosterone is not static but instead fluctuates in response to cues of challenge in the environment, and these challenge-induced fluctuations may more strongly regulate situation-specific aggressive behaviour. Here, we quantitatively summarize literature from all three approaches (baseline, change, and manipulation), providing the most comprehensive meta-analysis of these testosterone-aggression associations/effects in humans to date. Baseline testosterone shared a weak but significant association with aggression (r = 0.054, 95% CIs [0.028, 0.080]), an effect that was stronger and significant in men (r = 0.071, 95% CIs [0.041, 0.101]), but not women (r = 0.002, 95% CIs [-0.041, 0.044]). Changes in T were positively correlated with aggression (r = 0.108, 95% CIs [0.041, 0.174]), an effect that was also stronger and significant in men (r = 0.162, 95% CIs [0.076, 0.246]), but not women (r = 0.010, 95% CIs [-0.090, 0.109]). The causal effects of testosterone on human aggression were weaker yet, and not statistically significant (r = 0.046, 95% CIs [-0.015, 0.108]). We discuss the multiple moderators identified here (e.g., offender status of samples, sex) and elsewhere that may explain these generally weak effects. We also offer suggestions regarding methodology and sample sizes to best capture these associations in future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- S N Geniole
- Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, 100 College Dr. North Bay, ON P1B8L7, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of the Fraser Valley, 33844 King Rd, Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8, Canada; Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - B M Bird
- Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - J S McVittie
- Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, 100 College Dr. North Bay, ON P1B8L7, Canada
| | - R B Purcell
- Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, 100 College Dr. North Bay, ON P1B8L7, Canada
| | - J Archer
- School of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire PR1 2HE, UK
| | - J M Carré
- Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, 100 College Dr. North Bay, ON P1B8L7, Canada.
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Hormonal and emotional responses to competition using a dyadic approach: Basal testosterone predicts emotional state after a defeat. Physiol Behav 2019; 206:106-117. [PMID: 30928410 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The present study analyzes the testosterone (T), cortisol (C) and emotional response in competitive interactions between dyads, as well as the relationship between basal T and the emotional response. Seventy-two men and women (36 dyads) participated in same-sex dyads in a face-to-face laboratory competition, and thirty-two men and women (16 dyads) carried out the same task in a non-competitive condition. Salivary samples (5 ml of saliva, plastic vials) were provided at three time points (baseline, task, and post-task), and subsequently T (pg/ml) and C (nmol/L) concentrations were measured using ELISA method. Participants completed self-reported measures of emotional valence, emotional arousal and perceived dominance by means of the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM), at three time points (pre-task, task, and post-task). Two-level crossed Multilevel Models (MLM) showed a participants' stability in C (Mean ± SEM: baseline: 3.84 ± 0.28, task: 2.92 ± 0.28 and post-task: 2.62 ± 0.3), emotional valence (pre-task: 4 ± 0.06, task: 3.66 ± 0.1 and post-task: 3.84 ± 0.09), arousal (pre-task: 3.29 ± 0.09, task: 3.83 ± 0.09 and post-task: 3.38 ± 0.1) and dominance (pre-task: 3.28 ± 0.08, task: 3.4 ± 0.1 and post-task: 3.44 ± 0.09) values, which in the case of emotional valence and dominance was modulated by time-point, outcome and sex. Furthermore, analyses revealed that opponents' C, arousal and dominance values at one time-point influenced participants' values at the following time-point modulated by outcome, sex and time-point. Moreover, MLM indicated that in loser men, individuals higher in basal T (126.31 ± 6.4) displayed higher negative emotional valence after the defeat (post-task: 3.6 ± 0.21), while in women basal T (99.78 ± 12.6) was not significantly related to post competition emotional valence. These findings reinforce the importance of studying the relationship between hormonal and psychological changes in dyadic competition, and confirm that men and women differ in their psychophysiological responses to competition.
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Alacreu‐Crespo A, Costa R, Abad‐Tortosa D, Hidalgo V, Salvador A, Serrano MÁ. Hormonal changes after competition predict sex‐differentiated decision‐making. JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL DECISION MAKING 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/bdm.2128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Alacreu‐Crespo
- Department of PsychobiologyUniversity of Valencia Valencia Spain
- Department of Emergency Psychiatry and Post‐Acute CareCHU Montpellier Montpellier France
- Neuropsychiatry, Epidemiological and Clinical Research, INSERMUniversity of Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Raquel Costa
- Department of PsychobiologyUniversity of Valencia Valencia Spain
| | | | - Vanesa Hidalgo
- Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience, IDOCALUniversity of Valencia Valencia Spain
- Aragon Health Research Institute, Department of Psychology and Sociology, Area of PsychobiologyUniversity of Zaragoza Teruel Spain
| | - Alicia Salvador
- Department of PsychobiologyUniversity of Valencia Valencia Spain
- Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience, IDOCALUniversity of Valencia Valencia Spain
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Salivary testosterone concentration, anxiety, perceived performance and ratings of perceived exertion in basketball players during semi-final and final matches. Physiol Behav 2019; 198:102-107. [PMID: 30365978 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the effect of playing semi-final (SFM) and final (FM) matches on salivary testosterone (T) concentration, anxiety, session rating of perceived exertion (session-RPE) and perceived performance (PP) in elite male youth basketball players. Data from 25 players who participated ≥15 min in 6 assessed matches consisting of SFM (n = 3; 1 match for each age-category [U15, U16, and U17]), and FM (n = 3; 1 match for each age-category) were retained for analysis. Saliva sampling was conducted before and after the matches. Video recordings of the matches were conducted to assess the players match involvement (technical and tactical actions). Anxiety (CSAI-2) was assessed before pre-match saliva sampling, and session-RPE and PP were assessed post-matches. A significant increase in T from pre-to-post matches (SFM and FM; F = 24.40, p < .001) was observed, with no effect for condition (F = 1.70, p = .20) or interaction (F = 0.006, p = .93). No significant correlation between changes in salivary T (pre-to-post matches) and match involvement was observed (p > .05). However, a higher anxiety, session-RPE and PP were observed for FM (p < .05). The results of the present study suggest that while rising T in winners might be considered to be a hormonal response to support the expression of high-status signs, regardless of the playoff round (SFM or FM), the T and perceptual responses may be explained based on psychological aspects associated with the environment rather than by the technical demands or player's involvement in the match.
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Yamaguchi D, Tezuka Y, Suzuki N. The Differences Between Winners and Losers in Competition: the Relation of Cognitive and Emotional Aspects During a Competition to Hemodynamic Responses. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-018-0104-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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16
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Geniole SN, Carré JM. Human social neuroendocrinology: Review of the rapid effects of testosterone. Horm Behav 2018; 104:192-205. [PMID: 29885343 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2018] [Revised: 05/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Contribution to Special Issue on Fast effects of steroids. It is well documented that testosterone concentrations change rapidly within reproductively relevant contexts (e.g., competition, mate-seeking). It has been argued that such rapid changes in testosterone may serve to adaptively fine-tune ongoing and/or future social behaviour according to one's social environment. In this paper, we review human correlational and experimental evidence suggesting that testosterone fluctuates rapidly in response to competition and mate-seeking cues, and that such acute changes may serve to modulate ongoing and/or future social behaviours (e.g., risk-taking, competitiveness, mate-seeking, and aggression). Some methodological details, which limit interpretation of some of this human work, are also discussed. We conclude with a new integrative model of testosterone secretion and behaviour, the Fitness Model of Testosterone Dynamics. Although we focus primarily on human aggression in this review, we also highlight research on risk-taking, competitiveness, and mate-seeking behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn N Geniole
- Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria; Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, 100 College Drive, North Bay, Ontario P1B 8L7, Canada.
| | - Justin M Carré
- Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, 100 College Drive, North Bay, Ontario P1B 8L7, Canada.
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Torrance JS, Hahn AC, Kandrik M, DeBruine LM, Jones BC. No Evidence for Associations between men's Salivary Testosterone and Responses on the Intrasexual Competitiveness Scale. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 4:321-327. [PMID: 30956939 PMCID: PMC6428293 DOI: 10.1007/s40750-018-0095-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Many previous studies have investigated relationships between men’s competitiveness and testosterone. For example, the extent of changes in men’s testosterone levels following a competitive task predicts the likelihood of them choosing to compete again. Recent work investigating whether individual differences in men’s testosterone levels predict individual differences in their competitiveness have produced mixed results. Methods In light of the above, we investigated whether men’s (N = 59) scores on the Intrasexual Competitiveness Scale were related to either within-subject changes or between-subject differences in men’s salivary testosterone levels. Results Men’s responses on the Intrasexual Competitiveness Scale did not appear to track within-subject changes in testosterone. By contrast with one recent study, men’s Intrasexual Competitiveness Scale also did not appear to be related to individual differences in testosterone. Conclusions Our results present no evidence for associations between men’s testosterone and their responses on the Intrasexual Competitiveness Scale. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s40750-018-0095-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaimie S Torrance
- 1Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Amanda C Hahn
- 2Department of Psychology, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA USA
| | - Michal Kandrik
- 3Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam, VU, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Lisa M DeBruine
- 1Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Benedict C Jones
- 1Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Welker KM, Roy ARK, Geniole S, Kitayama S, Carré JM. Taking risks for personal gain: An investigation of self-construal and testosterone responses to competition. Soc Neurosci 2017; 14:99-113. [DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2017.1407822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Keith M. Welker
- Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ashlin R. K. Roy
- Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shawn Geniole
- Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, Canada
- Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Shinobu Kitayama
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Justin M. Carré
- Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, Canada
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19
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Winner and Loser Effects in Collegiate Baseball and Softball Doubleheaders. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-017-0082-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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20
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Welker KM, Prasad S, Srivastava S, Mehta PH. Basal cortisol's relation to testosterone changes may not be driven by social challenges. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017; 85:1-5. [PMID: 28779629 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.07.493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Multiple studies show a negative correlation between basal cortisol and testosterone changes in the presence of competition and social-evaluative stressors. These negative associations are proposed to be derived from psychological responses to competition and social-evaluative stress. However, we argue that the association between basal cortisol and testosterone change may instead be a statistical consequence of positively associated variables. In this paper, we present a mathematical rationale for this alternative explanation and examples from two studies that are consistent with this alternative explanation. Both studies show that the associations between basal cortisol and testosterone change have covariance patterns consistent with this alternative possibility. We conclude that the often-found positive association between basal cortisol and basal testosterone opens the door for alternative explanations of the basal cortisol-testosterone change association rooted in the patterns of associations between hormones measured over time. We also suggest future research directions and methods for testing alternative explanations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith M Welker
- Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, United States of America.
| | - Smrithi Prasad
- Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, United States of America
| | - Sanjay Srivastava
- Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, United States of America
| | - Pranjal H Mehta
- Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, United States of America
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21
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Zilioli S, Bird BM. Functional significance of men's testosterone reactivity to social stimuli. Front Neuroendocrinol 2017; 47:1-18. [PMID: 28676436 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2017.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Rapid testosterone fluctuations in response to social stimuli are observed across a wide range of species, and the highly conserved nature of these fluctuations suggests an adaptive function. This paper reviews the current literature on testosterone reactivity, primarily in human males, and illustrates how life-history theory provides an adequate theoretical framework to interpret findings. The review is structured around supporting evidence suggesting that situations implicated in mating effort either directly (e.g., interactions with a mate) or indirectly (e.g., intrasexual competition) are generally associated with a brief elevation of testosterone, while situations implicated in parenting effort (e.g., nurturant interactions with offspring) are generally associated with a decline in testosterone. Further, we discuss how these fluctuations in testosterone have been linked to future behaviors, and how situational, motivational, and physiological variables moderate the interplay between social stimuli, testosterone reactivity, and behavior. Supporting the notion that testosterone can play a causal role in modulating behavior in response to social stimuli, we also summarize recent single administration studies examining the effects of testosterone on physiology, neurobiology, and behavior. A conceptual model provides links between supported findings, and hypothesized pathways requiring future testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuele Zilioli
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
| | - Brian M Bird
- Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
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22
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Wagels L, Votinov M, Radke S, Clemens B, Montag C, Jung S, Habel U. Blunted insula activation reflects increased risk and reward seeking as an interaction of testosterone administration and the MAOA polymorphism. Hum Brain Mapp 2017; 38:4574-4593. [PMID: 28603901 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 04/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Testosterone, a male sex hormone, has been suggested to partly explain mixed findings in males and females when investigating behavioral tendencies associated with the MAOA polymorphism. Prior studies indicated that the MAOA polymorphism represents a vulnerability factor for financial risk-taking and harm avoidance and that testosterone increases human risk-taking. We therefore assumed an interactive influence of the MAOA polymorphism and testosterone application on decision making and corresponding neural correlates in a risk and reward context. Stratified for the MAOA polymorphism (S =short, L =long), 103 healthy males were assigned to a placebo or testosterone group (double blind, randomized) receiving a topical gel containing 50 mg testosterone. During a functional MRI scan, the participants performed a sequential decision making task. Our results indicate that testosterone and the MAOA polymorphism jointly influence sequential decision making. The MAOA-S variant was associated with less automatic harm avoidance as reflected in response times on safe decisions. Moreover, after testosterone administration, MAOA-S carriers were more risk-taking. Overall activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, anterior insula and inferior frontal gyrus increased with growing risk for losses. In the anterior insula, testosterone administration mitigated this effect solely in MAOA-S carriers. This might be a reflection of an improved coping during risk-reward conflicts subsequently modulating risky decision making. While the molecular basis is not well defined so far, our results support the assumption of testosterone as a modulatory factor for previously reported sex differences of behavioral associations with the MAOA-S variant. Hum Brain Mapp 38:4574-4593, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Wagels
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 10, Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany.,JARA-Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship, Research Center Jülich and RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mikhail Votinov
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 10, Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Sina Radke
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,JARA-Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship, Research Center Jülich and RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Clemens
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christian Montag
- Institue of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Key laboratory for NeuroInformation/Center for Information in Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Sonja Jung
- Institue of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ute Habel
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,JARA-Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship, Research Center Jülich and RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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Mehta PH, Lawless DesJardins NM, van Vugt M, Josephs RA. Hormonal underpinnings of status conflict: Testosterone and cortisol are related to decisions and satisfaction in the hawk-dove game. Horm Behav 2017; 92:141-154. [PMID: 28365397 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Revised: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
A contribution to a special issue on Hormones and Human Competition.Testosterone is theorized to influence status-seeking behaviors such as social dominance and competitive behavior, but supporting evidence is mixed. The present study tested the roles of testosterone and cortisol in the hawk-dove game, a dyadic economic decision-making paradigm in which earnings depend on one's own and the other player's choices. If one person selects the hawk strategy and the other person selects the dove strategy, the player who selected hawk attains a greater financial pay-off (status differentiation). The worst financial outcome occurs when both players choose the hawk strategy (status confrontation). Ninety-eight undergraduate students (42 men) provided saliva samples and played ten rounds of the hawk-dove game with another same-sex participant. In support of the hypothesis that testosterone is related to status concern, individuals higher in basal testosterone made more hawk decisions - decisions that harmed the other player. Acute decreases in cortisol were also associated with more hawk decisions. There was some empirical support for the dual-hormone hypothesis as well: basal testosterone was positively related to satisfaction in the game among low basal-cortisol individuals but not among high basal-cortisol individuals. There were no significant sex differences in these hormonal effects. The present findings align with theories of hormones and status-seeking behavior at the individual level, but they also open up new avenues for research on hormone profiles at the collective level. Our results suggest that the presence of two or more high-testosterone members increases the likelihood of status confrontations over a limited resource that can undermine collective outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranjal H Mehta
- Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, United States.
| | | | - Mark van Vugt
- Social and Organizational Psychology Group & Institute for Brain and Behavior, Vrije Universiteit (VU), Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Politics, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Robert A Josephs
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, United States
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24
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Henry A, Sattizahn JR, Norman GJ, Beilock SL, Maestripieri D. Performance during competition and competition outcome in relation to testosterone and cortisol among women. Horm Behav 2017; 92:82-92. [PMID: 28428002 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Revised: 03/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
A contribution to a special issue on Hormones and Human Competition. This study investigated the relation between competition, testosterone (T), and cortisol (C) in women. One hundred and twenty female participants competed against a male confederate in a computerized laboratory task. The task was preprogrammed so that half the women won and half of the women lost the competition. T and C concentrations were measured in saliva samples collected at four time points before and after the competition. Accuracy and reaction time during the competition were recorded. T and C increased directly after the competition, though not significantly for C, and then decreased over time regardless of the competition outcome. Regression analyses demonstrated that baseline T was significantly and positively associated with competition accuracy, though only in individuals who were low in C. Individuals who were high in C showed no relation between T and accuracy. This relation was further qualified by competition outcome. Losers of the competition showed a significant positive relation between baseline T levels and competition accuracy, though only if they were low in C. No relation was found between T and accuracy in losers who were high in C. Winners of the competition showed no relation between T and accuracy, regardless of whether C levels were high or low. These results are in line with the dual-hormone hypothesis, whereby the effects of T on status-seeking behaviors are dependent on C levels for individuals whose status is threatened.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Henry
- Department of Psychology, The University of Chicago, USA; Institute for Mind and Biology, The University of Chicago, USA.
| | | | - Greg J Norman
- Department of Psychology, The University of Chicago, USA
| | - Sian L Beilock
- Department of Psychology, The University of Chicago, USA; Committee on Education, The University of Chicago, USA
| | - Dario Maestripieri
- Institute for Mind and Biology, The University of Chicago, USA; Department of Comparative Human Development, The University of Chicago, USA
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25
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Coates J, Gurnell M. Combining field work and laboratory work in the study of financial risk-taking. Horm Behav 2017; 92:13-19. [PMID: 28174099 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Revised: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
A contribution to a special issue on Hormones and Human Competition. Financial markets are periodically destabilized by bubbles and crashes during which investors display respectively what has been called "irrational exuberance" and "irrational pessimism". How can we best study these pathologies in competitive and risk-taking behaviours? In this article, we argue that a science of risk-taking and of the financial markets needs to draw heavily on physiology and especially endocrinology, due to their central roles in moderating human behaviour. Importantly, this science of competition and risk requires the same spectrum of research protocols as is found in mature biological and medical sciences, a spectrum running from field work conducted within financial institutions themselves to more controlled laboratory studies, which permit cause to be distinguished from effect. Such a spectrum of studies is especially important for translational behavioural science.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Coates
- Dewline Research, London, W8, United Kingdom.
| | - Mark Gurnell
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science & NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, University of Cambridge & Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom
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26
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Geniole SN, Bird BM, Ruddick EL, Carré JM. Effects of competition outcome on testosterone concentrations in humans: An updated meta-analysis. Horm Behav 2017; 92:37-50. [PMID: 27720891 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Revised: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
A contribution to a special issue on Hormones and Human Competition. Since Archer's (2006) influential meta-analysis, there has been a major increase in the number of studies investigating the effect of competition outcome on testosterone reactivity patterns in humans. Despite this increased research output, there remains debate as to whether competition outcome modulates testosterone concentrations. The present paper examines this question using a meta-analytic approach including papers published over the last 35years. Moreover, it provides the first meta-analytic estimate of the effect of competition outcome on testosterone concentrations in women. Results from a meta-analysis involving 60 effect sizes and >2500 participants indicated that winners of a competition demonstrated a larger increase in testosterone concentrations relative to losers (D=0.20)-an effect that was highly heterogeneous. This 'winner-loser' effect was most robust in studies conducted outside the lab (e.g., in sport venues) (D=0.43); for studies conducted in the lab, the effect of competition outcome on testosterone reactivity patterns was relatively weak (D=0.08), and only found in studies of men (D=0.15; in women: D=-0.04). Further, the 'winner-loser' effect was stronger among studies in which pre-competition testosterone was sampled earlier than (D=0.38, after trim and fill correction) rather than within (D=0.09) 10min of the start of the competition. Therefore, these results also provide important insight regarding study design and methodology, and will be a valuable resource for researchers conducting subsequent studies on the 'winner loser' effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn N Geniole
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada; Neuropsychopharmacology and Biopsychology Unit, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Brian M Bird
- Department of Psychology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Erika L Ruddick
- Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, Ontario, Canada
| | - Justin M Carré
- Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, Ontario, Canada.
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27
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Welker KM, Lassetter B, Brandes CM, Prasad S, Koop DR, Mehta PH. A comparison of salivary testosterone measurement using immunoassays and tandem mass spectrometry. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2016; 71:180-8. [PMID: 27295182 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Revised: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) are widely used to measure salivary testosterone. However, little is known about how accurately different EIAs assess testosterone, partially because estimates across various EIAs differ considerably. We compared testosterone concentrations across EIAs of three commonly used manufacturers (DRG International, Salimetrics, and IBL International) to liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Relative to EIAs from Salimetrics and IBL International, EIAs supplied by DRG International provided the closest approximation to LC-MS/MS testosterone concentrations, followed closely by EIAs from Salimetrics, and then IBL. Additionally, EIAs tended to inflate estimates of lower testosterone concentrations in women. Examining our results and comparing them to existing data revealed that testosterone EIAs had decreased linear correspondence with LC-MS/MS in comparison to cortisol EIAs. Overall, this paper provides researchers with information to better measure testosterone in their research and more accurately compare testosterone measurements across different methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith M Welker
- University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, United States
| | | | | | | | - Dennis R Koop
- Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, United States
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Studer B, Van Dijk H, Handermann R, Knecht S. Increasing self-directed training in neurorehabilitation patients through competition. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2016; 229:367-388. [PMID: 27926448 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2016.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
This proof-of-concept study aimed to test whether competition could be a useful tool to increase intensity and amount of self-directed training in neurorehabilitation. Stroke patients undergoing inpatient neurorehabilitation (n=93) conducted self-directed endurance training on a (wheelchair-compatible) bicycle trainer under three experimental conditions: a "Competition" condition and two noncompetition control conditions (repeated randomized within-subject design). Training performance and perceived exertion were recorded and statistically analyzed. Three motivational effects of competition were found. First, competition led to an increase in self-directed training. Patients exercised significantly more intensively under competition than in the two noncompetition control conditions. Second, (winning a) competition had a positive influence on performance in the subsequent training session. Third, training performance was particularly high during rematch competitions; that is to say, during second encounter competitions against an opponent that the patient had just beaten. No systematic effect of competition upon perceived exertion (controlled for training performance) was found. Together, our results demonstrate that competition is a potent motivational tool to increase self-directed training in neurorehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Studer
- Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany; Mauritius Hospital, Meerbusch, Germany.
| | - H Van Dijk
- Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - S Knecht
- Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany; Mauritius Hospital, Meerbusch, Germany
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Abstract
Testosterone and cortisol figure prominently in the research literature having to do with human competition. In this review, we track the history of this literature, concentrating particularly on major theoretical and empirical contributions, and provide commentary on what we see as important unresolved issues. In men and women, athletic competition is typically associated with an increase in testosterone (T) and cortisol (C). Hormone changes in response to non-athletic competition are less predictable. Person (e.g., power motivation, mood, aggressiveness, social anxiety, sex, and baseline levels of T and C) and context (e.g., whether a competition is won or lost, the closeness of the competition, whether the outcome is perceived as being influenced by ability vs. chance, provocations) factors can influence hormone responses to competition. From early on, studies pointed to a positive relationship between T and dominance motivation/status striving. Recent research, however, suggests that this relationship only holds for individuals with low levels of C - this is the core idea of the dual-hormone hypothesis, and it is certain that the broadest applications of the hypothesis have not yet been realized. Individuals differ with respect to the extent to which they embrace competition, but the hormonal correlates of competitiveness remain largely unexplored. Although rapid increases in both T and C associated with competition are likely adaptive, we still know very little about the psychological benefits of these hormonal changes. Administration studies have and will continue to contribute to this inquiry. We close with a discussion of what, we think, are important methodological and mechanistic issues for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen V Casto
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States
| | - David A Edwards
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
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Perceived and experimentally manipulated status moderates the relationship between facial structure and risk-taking. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2015.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Apicella CL, Dreber A. Sex Differences in Competitiveness: Hunter-Gatherer Women and Girls Compete Less in Gender-Neutral and Male-Centric Tasks. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-014-0015-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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