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Li FJ, Zhang ZX, Li YDY, Li JY, Liu YN, Liu XJ, Zhang RY, Liu X, Zhang W, Xu CY, Cui GY. High bioavailable testosterone levels increase the incidence of isolated REM sleep behavior disorder: Results from multivariable and network Mendelian randomization analysis. Sleep Med 2024; 121:102-110. [PMID: 38959716 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2024.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To explore the causal relationships between sex hormone levels and incidence of isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD). METHODS In our study, we utilized Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) data for iRBD, including 9447 samples with 1061 cases of iRBD provided by the International RBD Study Group. Initially, we conducted a two-sample univariate MR analysis to explore the impact of sex hormone-related indicators on iRBD. This was followed by the application of multivariable MR methods to adjust for other hormone levels and potential confounders. Finally, we undertook a network MR analysis, employing brain structure Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) characteristics as potential mediators, to examine whether sex hormones could indirectly influence the incidence of iRBD by affecting brain structure. RESULTS Bioavailable testosterone (BioT) is an independent risk factor for iRBD (Odds Ratio [95 % Confidence Interval] = 2.437 [1.308, 4.539], P = 0.005, corrected-P = 0.020), a finding that remained consistent even after adjusting for other sex hormone levels and potential confounders. Additionally, BioT appears to indirectly increase the risk of iRBD by reducing axial diffusivity and increasing the orientation dispersion index in the left cingulum and cingulate gyrus. CONCLUSIONS Our research reveals that elevated levels of BioT contribute to the development of iRBD. However, the specific impact of BioT on different sexes remains unclear. Furthermore, high BioT may indirectly lead to iRBD by impairing normal pathways in the left cingulum and cingulate gyrus and fostering abnormal pathway formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Jia Li
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221006, People's Republic of China
| | - Zi-Xuan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221006, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang-Dan-Yu Li
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221006, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin-Yu Li
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221006, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Ning Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221006, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuan-Jing Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221006, People's Republic of China
| | - Ru-Yu Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221006, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221006, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221006, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuan-Ying Xu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221006, People's Republic of China
| | - Gui-Yun Cui
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221006, People's Republic of China.
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2
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Sher L, Bierer LM, Flory J, Makotkine I, Yehuda R. Interplay of combat deployment harassment, testosterone concentrations and post-deployment suicide risk in male veterans. Acta Neuropsychiatr 2024; 36:167-171. [PMID: 38528804 DOI: 10.1017/neu.2024.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Many combat veterans exhibit suicidal ideation and behaviour, but the relationships among experiences occurring during combat deployment and suicidality are still not fully understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that harassment during a combat deployment is associated with post-deployment suicidality and testosterone function. METHODS Male combat veterans who made post-deployment suicide attempts and demographically matched veterans without a history of suicide attempts were enrolled in the study. Demographic and clinical parameters of study participants were assessed and recorded. Study participants were interviewed by a trained clinician using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), the Deployment Risk and Resilience Inventory (DRRI) – Relationships within unit scale, the Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI), and the Brown–Goodwin Aggression Scale. Free testosterone levels were assessed in morning blood samples. RESULTS DRRI harassment scores were higher and free testosterone levels were lower among suicide attempters in comparison with non-attempters. In the whole sample, DRRI harassment scores positively correlated with SSI scores and negatively correlated with free testosterone levels. Free testosterone levels negatively correlated with SSI scores. Aggression scale scores positively correlated with DRRI harassment scores among non-attempters but not among attempters. CONCLUSION Our observations that harassment scores are associated with suicidality and testosterone levels, and suicidality is associated with testosterone levels may indicate that there is a link between deployment harassment, testosterone function and suicidality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo Sher
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Linda M Bierer
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Janine Flory
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Iouri Makotkine
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Rachel Yehuda
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
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3
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Zanini L, Picano C, Spitoni GF. The Iowa Gambling Task: Men and Women Perform Differently. A Meta-analysis. Neuropsychol Rev 2024:10.1007/s11065-024-09637-3. [PMID: 38462590 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-024-09637-3] [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: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) was designed to assess decision-making under conditions of complexity and uncertainty; it is currently one of the most widely used tests to assess decision-making in both experimental and clinical settings. In the original version of the task, participants are given a loan of play money and four decks of cards and are asked to maximize profits. Although any single card unpredictably yields wins/losses, variations in frequency and size of gains/losses ultimately make two decks more advantageous in the long term. Several studies have previously suggested that there may be a sex-related difference in IGT performance. Thus, the present study aimed to explore and quantify sex differences in IGT performance by pooling the results of 110 studies. The meta-analysis revealed that males tend to perform better than females on the classic 100-trial IGT (UMD = 3.381; p < 0.001). Furthermore, the significant heterogeneity observed suggests high variability in the results obtained by individual studies. Results were not affected by publication bias or other moderators. Factors that may contribute to differences in male and female performance are discussed, such as functional sex-related asymmetries in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and amygdala, as well as differences in sensitivity to wins/losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovica Zanini
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli, 1, Rome, Italy.
| | - Chiara Picano
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Grazia Fernanda Spitoni
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli, 1, Rome, Italy
- Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation and Neuroimaging Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
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4
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Cherki BR, Winter E, Mankuta D, Zerbib S, Israel S. Intranasal oxytocin interacts with testosterone reactivity to modulate parochial altruism. COMMUNICATIONS PSYCHOLOGY 2024; 2:18. [PMID: 39242967 PMCID: PMC11332015 DOI: 10.1038/s44271-024-00066-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
The neuropeptide hormone oxytocin and the steroid hormone testosterone have received attention as modulators of behavior in the context of intergroup conflict. However, to date, their interactive effect has yet to be tested. Here, in a double-blind placebo-control design, 204 participants (102 female participants) self-administrated oxytocin or placebo and completed an experimental economic game modeling intergroup conflict. Salivary testosterone (n = 192) was measured throughout the task to assess endogenous reactivity. As a caveat, even at this sample size, our derived power to detect small effects for 2- and 3-way interactions was relatively low. For male participants, changes in testosterone predicted willingness to sacrifice investments for the betterment of the group. Intranasal administration of oxytocin strongly diminished this effect. In female participants, we found no credible evidence for association between changes in testosterone and investments, rather, oxytocin effects were independent of testosterone. This 3-way interaction was of medium to large effect size (Odds Ratio 5.11). Behavior was also affected by social cues such as signaling of ingroup and outgroup members. Our findings provide insights as to the biological processes underpinning parochial altruism and suggest an additional path for the dual influence of oxytocin and testosterone on human social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boaz R Cherki
- Psychology Department, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus Campus, Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem, 9190501, Israel
- The Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
| | - Eyal Winter
- The Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
- Economics Department, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus Campus, Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem, 9190501, Israel
- Management School, University of Lancaster, Lancaster, LA1 4YX, UK
| | - David Mankuta
- Hadassah Medical Center, Department of Labor and Delivery, Kiryat Hadassah, Jerusalem, 9112001, Israel
| | - Shirli Zerbib
- Psychology Department, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus Campus, Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem, 9190501, Israel
| | - Salomon Israel
- Psychology Department, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus Campus, Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem, 9190501, Israel.
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Inoue Y, Burriss RP, Hasegawa T, Kiyonari T. Testosterone promotes dominance behaviors in the Ultimatum Game after players' status increases. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18029. [PMID: 37865708 PMCID: PMC10590433 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45247-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Although testosterone is generally considered to promote dominance behaviors, in humans it fosters behaviors appropriate to achieving and maintaining social status, contingent upon the situation. Recent cross-sectional studies, such as Inoue et al. (Sci Rep 7:5335, 2017), have shown that dominance behaviors induced by testosterone are modulated by high status. Yet, it remains ambiguous whether a rise in social status within real-world social groups reshapes the relationship between testosterone and dominance behavior. To investigate this longitudinal question, we added a second wave to Inoue et al.'s study, collecting further data after an interval of 2 years. Members of a university rugby team that adheres to a rigid hierarchical order rooted in seniority played the Ultimatum Game with teammates and provided saliva for assays of testosterone and cortisol. Our analysis reveals that individuals with higher baseline salivary testosterone levels exhibited more dominance as their position in the hierarchy increased according to their seniority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukako Inoue
- Department of Social Psychology, Yasuda Women's University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | | | - Toshikazu Hasegawa
- Graduate school of Arts and Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toko Kiyonari
- School of Social Informatics, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5258, Japan.
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Dobbelaar S, Achterberg M, van Drunen L, van Duijvenvoorde AC, van IJzendoorn MH, Crone EA. Development of social feedback processing and responses in childhood: an fMRI test-replication design in two age cohorts. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2023; 18:nsac039. [PMID: 35661224 PMCID: PMC10985675 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsac039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated behavioral and neural correlates underlying social feedback processing and subsequent aggressive behaviors in childhood in two age cohorts (test sample: n = 509/n = 385 and replication sample: n = 354/n = 195, 7-9 years old). Using a previously validated Social Network Aggression Task, we showed that negative social feedback resulted in most behavioral aggression, followed by less aggression after neutral and least aggression after positive feedback. Receiving positive and negative social feedback was associated with increased activity in the insula, medial prefrontal cortex and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex. Responding to feedback was associated with additional activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) following positive feedback. This DLPFC activation correlated negatively with aggression. Furthermore, age analyses showed that older children showed larger reductions in aggression following positive feedback and more neural activation in the DLPFC when responding to positive feedback compared to younger children. To assess the robustness of our results, we examined these processes in two independent behavioral/functional magnetic resonance imaging samples using equivalence testing, thereby contributing to replicable reports. Together, these findings demonstrate an important role of social saliency and regulatory processes where regulation of aggression rapidly develops between the ages of 7 and 9 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Dobbelaar
- Leiden Consortium on Individual Development, Leiden University, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands
- Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden 2300 RC, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 DR, The Netherlands
| | - Michelle Achterberg
- Leiden Consortium on Individual Development, Leiden University, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands
- Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden 2300 RC, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 DR, The Netherlands
| | - Lina van Drunen
- Leiden Consortium on Individual Development, Leiden University, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands
- Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden 2300 RC, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 DR, The Netherlands
| | - Anna c.k van Duijvenvoorde
- Leiden Consortium on Individual Development, Leiden University, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands
- Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden 2300 RC, The Netherlands
| | - Marinus H van IJzendoorn
- Leiden Consortium on Individual Development, Leiden University, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 DR, The Netherlands
- Research Department of Clinical, Education and Health Psychology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Eveline A Crone
- Leiden Consortium on Individual Development, Leiden University, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands
- Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden 2300 RC, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 DR, The Netherlands
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7
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Pletzer B, Noachtar I, Hidalgo-Lopez E. Hormonal contraception & face processing: Examining face gender, androgenicity & treatment duration. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 154:106292. [PMID: 37210755 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Previous cross-sectional studies observed differences between users and non-users of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) in both the structure and function of the fusiform face area (FFA) related to face processing. For the present study 120 female participants performed high-resolution structural, as well as functional scans at rest, during face encoding and face recognition. Participants were either never-users of COCs (26), current first-time users of androgenic (29) or anti-androgenic COCs (23) or previous users of androgenic (21) or anti-androgenic COCs (21). Results suggest that associations between COC-use and face processing are modulated by androgenicity, but do not persist beyond the duration of COC use. The majority of findings concern the connectivity of the left FFA to the left supramarginal gyrus (SMG), which is a key region in cognitive empathy. While connectivity in anti-androgenic COC users differs from never users irrespective of the duration of COC use already at rest, connectivity in androgenic COC users decreases with longer duration of use during face recognition. Furthermore, longer duration of androgenic COC use was related to reduced identification accuracy, as well as increased connectivity of the left FFA to the right orbitofrontal cortex. Accordingly, the FFA and SMG emerge as promising ROIs for future randomized controlled trials on the effects of COC use on face processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinda Pletzer
- Department of Psychology & Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience Paris-Lodron-University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Isabel Noachtar
- Department of Psychology & Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience Paris-Lodron-University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Esmeralda Hidalgo-Lopez
- Department of Psychology & Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience Paris-Lodron-University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
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Wang Y, Liu H, Wang YR, Wei J, Zhao RR, Fang JQ. Relationship between chronotypes and aggression in adolescents: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:214. [PMID: 36991419 PMCID: PMC10061703 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04615-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the relationship between chronotypes and aggression in adolescents. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on 755 primary and secondary school students aged 11-16 years in rural areas of Ningxia Province, China. The Chinese version of the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (AQ-CV) and the Chinese version Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ-CV) were used to assess the aggressive behavior and chronotypes of the study subjects. The Kruskal-Wallis test was then used to compare the differences in aggression among adolescents with different chronotypes, and Spearman correlation analysis to determine the relationship between chronotypes and aggression. Further linear regression analysis was used to investigate the effects of chronotype, personality traits, family environment, and class environment on adolescent aggression. RESULTS There were significant differences in chronotypes between different age groups and different sexes. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the MEQ-CV total score was negatively correlated with the AQ-CV total score (r = -0.263) and score of each AQ-CV subscale. In Model 1, chronotypes were negatively associated with aggression when controlling for age and sex, and evening-type adolescents might be more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior (b = -0.513, 95% CI: [-0.712, -0.315], P < 0.001); in Model 2, the negative association remained after controlling for family and class environment on the basis of Model 1 (b = -0.404, 95% CI: [-0.601, -0.208], P < 0.001); and in Model 3, the negative association still existed after controlling for personality traits on the basis of Model 2 (b = -0.383, 95% CI: [-0.577, -0.190], P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Compared to morning-type adolescents, evening-type adolescents were more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior. Given social expectations for MT adolescents, adolescents should be actively guided to develop a good circadian rhythm that may be more conducive to their physical and mental development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Wang
- Mental Health Center, The General Hospital Ningxia Medical University, 750004, Yinchuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Liu
- Graduate School, Xi'an International Studies University, 710119, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan-Rong Wang
- School of Nursing, Ningxia Medical University, 750004, Yinchuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Wei
- The Fourth Department of Geriatrics, Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, 310012, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Ran-Ran Zhao
- Mental Health Center, the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, 050031, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Jian-Qun Fang
- Mental Health Center, The General Hospital Ningxia Medical University, 750004, Yinchuan, People's Republic of China.
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9
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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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10
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Wang X, Liao J, Nan Y, Hu J, Wu Y. Can testosterone modulate prosocial learning in healthy males? A double-blind, placebo-controlled, testosterone administration study. Biol Psychol 2023; 178:108524. [PMID: 36801356 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108524] [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: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Testosterone is associated with both aggressive and prosocial behavior, which depend on the social context and the trade-off between self- and other-interest. However, little is known about the effects of testosterone on prosocial behavior in a context without such trade-offs. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of exogenous testosterone on prosocial behavior by using a prosocial learning task. Healthy male participants (n =120) received a single dose of testosterone gel in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-participants experiment. Participants performed a prosocial learning task in which they were asked to learn to gain rewards for three different recipients, i.e., self, other and computer, by choosing symbols associated with potential rewards. The results showed that testosterone administration increased the learning rates across all the recipient conditions (dother = 1.57; dself = 0.50; dcomputer = 0.99). More importantly, participants in the testosterone group had a higher prosocial learning rate than those in the placebo group (d = 1.57). These findings suggest that testosterone generally enhances reward sensitivity and prosocial learning. The present study corroborates the social status hypothesis, according to which testosterone promotes status-seeking prosocial behavior when it is appropriate to the social context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong; School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiajun Liao
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Nan
- School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Hu
- Zurich Center for Neuroeconomics, Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Yin Wu
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong; Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
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11
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Czarna AZ, Ziemiańska M, Pawlicki P, Carré JM, Sedikides C. Narcissism moderates the association between basal testosterone and generosity in men. Horm Behav 2022; 146:105265. [PMID: 36155912 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Research has linked hormones to behavioral outcomes in intricate ways, often moderated by psychological dispositions. The associations between testosterone and antisocial or prosocial outcomes also depend on dispositions relevant to status and dominance. In two studies (N1 = 68, N2 = 83), we investigated whether endogenous testosterone, measured in saliva, and narcissism, a psychological variable highly relevant to status motivation, interactively predicted men's preferences regarding resource allocation. Narcissism moderated the links between testosterone and social value orientation: among low narcissists testosterone negatively predicted generosity in resource allocation and probability of endorsing a prosocial (vs. pro-self) value orientation, whereas among high narcissists testosterone tended to positively predict generosity and the probability of endorsing a prosocial (vs. pro-self) value orientation. We discuss these results as examples of calibrating effects of testosterone on human behavior, serving to increase and maintain social status. We advocate the relevance of psychological dispositions, alongside situations, when examining the role of T in social outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Z Czarna
- Institute of Applied Psychology, Jagiellonian University, ul. Stanisława Łojasiewicza 4, 30-348 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Magdalena Ziemiańska
- Institute of Applied Psychology, Jagiellonian University, ul. Stanisława Łojasiewicza 4, 30-348 Kraków, Poland
| | - Piotr Pawlicki
- Center of Experimental and Innovative Medicine, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Redzina 1c, 30-248 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Justin M Carré
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences - Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Constantine Sedikides
- School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, England, United Kingdom.
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Melino S, Mormone E. On the Interplay Between the Medicine of Hildegard of Bingen and Modern Medicine: The Role of Estrogen Receptor as an Example of Biodynamic Interface for Studying the Chronic Disease's Complexity. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:745138. [PMID: 35712451 PMCID: PMC9196248 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.745138] [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: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) interpreted the origins of chronic disease highlighting and anticipating, although only in a limited fashion, the importance that complex interactions among numerous genetic, internal milieu and external environmental factors have in determining the disease phenotype. Today, we recognize those factors, capable of mediating the transmission of messages between human body and environment and vice versa, as biodynamic interfaces. Aim We analyzed, in the light of modern scientific evidence, Hildegard of Bingen's medical approach and her original humoral theory in order to identify possible insights included in her medicine that could be referred to in the context of modern evidence-based medicine. In particular, the abbess's humoral theory suggests the identification of biodynamic interfaces with sex hormones and their receptors. Findings We found that the Hildegardian holistic vision of the organism-environment relationship can actually represent a visionary approach to modern endocrinology and that sex hormones, in particular estrogens, could represent an example of a biodynamic interface. Estrogen receptors are found in regions of the brain involved in emotional and cognitive regulation, controlling the molecular mechanism of brain function. Estrogen receptors are involved in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and in the epigenetic regulation of responses to physiological, social, and hormonal stimuli. Furthermore, estrogen affects gene methylation on its own and related receptor promoters in discrete regions of the developing brain. This scenario was strikingly perceived by the abbess in the XIIth century, and depicted as a complex interplay among different humors and flegmata that she recognized to be sex specific and environmentally regulated. Viewpoint Considering the function played by hormones, analyzed through the last scientific evidence, and scientific literature on biodynamic interfaces, we could suggest Hildegardian insights and theories as the first attempt to describe the modern holistic, sex-based medicine. Conclusion Hildegard anticipated a concept of pathogenesis that sees a central role for endocrinology in sex-specific disease. Furthermore, estrogens and estrogen receptors could represent a good example of molecular interfaces capable of modulating the interaction between the organism internal milieu and the environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Melino
- Research Unit of Philosophy of Science and Human Development, Faculty of Science and Technology for Humans and the Environment, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Mormone
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Institute for Stem-Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies, Foggia, Italy
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Iancarelli A, Denson TF, Chou CA, Satpute AB. Using citation network analysis to enhance scholarship in psychological science: A case study of the human aggression literature. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266513. [PMID: 35446862 PMCID: PMC9022888 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Researchers cannot keep up with the volume of articles being published each year. In order to develop adequate expertise in a given field of study, students and early career scientists must be strategic in what they decide to read. Here we propose using citation network analysis to characterize the literature topology of a given area. We used the human aggression literature as our example. Our citation network analysis identified 15 research communities on aggression. The five largest communities were: "media and video games", "stress, traits and aggression", "rumination and displaced aggression", "role of testosterone", and "social aggression". We examined the growth of these research communities over time, and we used graph theoretic approaches to identify the most influential papers within each community and the "bridging" articles that linked distinct communities to one another. Finally, we also examined whether our citation network analysis would help mitigate gender bias relative to focusing on total citation counts. The percentage of articles with women first authors doubled when identifying influential articles by community structure versus citation count. Our approach of characterizing literature topologies using citation network analysis may provide a valuable resource for psychological scientists by outlining research communities and their growth over time, identifying influential papers within each community (including bridging papers), and providing opportunities to increase gender equity in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Iancarelli
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Thomas F. Denson
- School of Psychology , University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, AUS
| | - Chun-An Chou
- Mechanical Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Ajay B. Satpute
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States of America
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Meij L, Pulopulos MM, Hidalgo V, Almela M, Lila M, Roney JR, Salvador A. Hormonal changes of intimate partner violence perpetrators in response to brief social contact with women. Aggress Behav 2022; 48:30-39. [PMID: 34605041 PMCID: PMC9293448 DOI: 10.1002/ab.21995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated whether men with a history of real‐life aggressive, dominant behavior show increases in testosterone and cortisol levels after brief social contact with women. Furthermore, we tested the prediction that such changes in hormones would be larger than those observed previously in young male students. Sixty‐seven male participants convicted of intimate partner violence (IPV) either had brief social contact with a female confederate (experimental condition) or a male confederate (control condition). We also performed meta‐analyses to investigate whether IPV perpetrators' hormonal responses were larger than the typical responses of young male students in prior studies. All statistical analyses were preregistered. Change in testosterone did not differ across experimental conditions, and testosterone in the IPV perpetrators actually declined from baseline in the female confederate condition. Our meta‐analysis showed that this testosterone decrease was different from the testosterone increase typically observed in young male students. The cortisol levels of IPV perpetrators did not change in response to contact with women. This result was consistent with our meta‐analysis since young male students also did not experience a cortisol change in response to interactions with women. In sum, our findings provide no evidence that male IPV perpetrators exhibit larger hormone increases to brief interactions with women, although it is possible that the men in this sample did not perceive the social contact period as a courtship opportunity. These results suggest that hormone reactivity to social encounters may differ across subject populations and depend on how subjects perceive social situations within laboratory settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leander Meij
- Department of Industrial Engineering Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven The Netherlands
| | - Matias M. Pulopulos
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology Ghent University Ghent Belgium
| | - Vanesa Hidalgo
- IIS Aragón, Department of Psychology and Sociology, Area of Psychobiology University of Zaragoza Teruel Spain
| | - Mercedes Almela
- Health Department Valencian International University (VIU) Valencia Spain
- Department of Cognitive Neuropsychology Tilburg University Tilburg The Netherlands
| | - Marisol Lila
- Department of Social Psychology University of Valencia Valencia Spain
| | - James R. Roney
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences University of California Santa Barbara California USA
| | - Alicia Salvador
- Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience, IDOCAL University of Valencia Valencia Spain
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Linhares BL, Miranda EP, Cintra AR, Reges R, Torres LO. Use, Misuse and Abuse of Testosterone and Other Androgens. Sex Med Rev 2021; 10:583-595. [PMID: 37051948 DOI: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2021.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION For several decades, testosterone and its synthetic derivatives have been used for anabolic and androgenic purposes. Initially restricted to professional bodybuilders, these substances gradually became more popular with recreational weightlifters. Considering its increasing prevalence, the consumption of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) has become a matter of great concern. Although most side effects are mild and reversible, some of them can cause permanent damage or can be potentially life threatening. OBJECTIVES To review and summarize medical literature regarding misuse and abuse of testosterone and other androgens, in order to provide evidence-based information on the main topics related to this subject, such as how to identify and how to deal with these patients, and to elucidate the multiple possible adverse effects secondary to this practice. METHODS Key studies were retrieved from PubMed (1989-2021) with reference searches from relevant articles. Search terms included "hypogonadism", "anabolic androgenic steroids", "androgens", "misuse AND testosterone", "abuse AND testosterone", and "side effects AND testosterone". RESULTS There is a significant lack of information in the peer-reviewed literature describing demographic data, implications for different organ systems and the management of current or former AAS users; however, androgen abuse has been already linked to a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic, endocrine, neurological, psychiatric and liver disorders. Despite all this, most physicians still feel uncomfortable and hesitate to discuss the issue with patients. CONCLUSIONS The chronic use of high doses of AAS is associated with adverse effects in several organ systems; however, there are still many gaps in our knowledge about the long-term consequences of this practice and how to deal with these patients. Healthcare professionals have a crucial role in combating this public health problem, recognizing and preventing the spread of androgen abuse. Linhares BL, Miranda EP, Cintra AR, et al. Use, Misuse and Abuse of Testosterone and Other Androgens. Sex Med Rev 2021;XX:XXX-XXX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno L Linhares
- Division of Urology, Universidade Federal do Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Eduardo P Miranda
- Division of Urology, Universidade Federal do Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Anna R Cintra
- Division of Urology, Universidade Federal do Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Reges
- Division of Urology, Universidade Federal do Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil
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Liu Y, Guo X, Yang B. Age at onset of drug use and aggressive behavior: The role of internal and environmental factors. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02013-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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17
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Nepomuceno MV, Stenstrom E. The association between testosterone and unethical behaviours, and the moderating role of intrasexual competition. Br J Psychol 2021; 113:208-225. [PMID: 34363209 DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12525] [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: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Researchers have called for a greater use of neuroscientific methods to advance theories in ethical behaviour. Our research takes a neuroscientific approach to investigating unethical behaviour by examining the roles of testosterone and intrasexual competition. We propose that unethical behavioural intentions will be greater for high-testosterone individuals in response to highly intrasexually competitive situations as a means of enhancing status. In an experiment, we measure baseline testosterone and assign participants to an intrasexually competitive or control condition. We demonstrate that in men, but not in women, testosterone is positively associated with unethical behavioural intentions in response to an intrasexual competition prime. Furthermore, using textual analysis, we find that testosterone is positively associated with the usage of anger-related words in response to an intrasexual competition prime among men. In turn, anger-related words are positively associated with unethical behaviour, suggesting that anger may play a role in motivating high-testosterone men to behave unethically. Overall, our findings contribute to the literature by suggesting that testosterone and competition lead to greater unethical behaviour in men, and that anger plays a role in promoting unethical behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric Stenstrom
- Marketing Department, Farmer School of Business, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
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Stanton SJ, Welker KM, Bonin PL, Goldfarb B, Carré JM. The effect of testosterone on economic risk-taking: A multi-study, multi-method investigation. Horm Behav 2021; 134:105014. [PMID: 34214918 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.105014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Testosterone has been suggested to influence individuals' economic decision making, yet the effects of testosterone on economic behavior are not well-understood and existing research is equivocal. In response, in three studies, we examined the extent to which testosterone affected or was associated with several different facets of economic decision making. Study 1 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects study examining loss aversion and risk-taking (N = 26), whereas Study 2 was a larger double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subjects study examining loss aversion and risk-taking behavior (N = 117). As a methodological compliment, Study 3 was a larger correlational design (N = 213) with a highly accurate measure of endogenous testosterone examining a wider range of economic behaviors and trait-like preferences. Broadly, the results of all three studies suggest no consistent relationship between testosterone and financial behavior or preferences. Although there were significant effects in specific cases, these findings did not replicate in other studies or would not remain significant when controlling for family-wise error rate. We consider potential contextual moderators that may determine under what circumstances testosterone affects economic decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Stanton
- 420 Elliott Hall, School of Business Administration, Oakland University, 2200 N. Squirrel Rd., Rochester, MI 48309, United States of America.
| | | | - Pierre L Bonin
- Northern Ontario School of Medicine, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd., Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - Bernard Goldfarb
- Northern Ontario School of Medicine, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd., Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada.
| | - Justin M Carré
- Nipissing University, 100 College Drive, North Bay P1B 8L7, Ontario, Canada.
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Ryu V, Ha RY, Cho HS. Altered behavioral and electrophysiological responses to social fairness in manic and euthymic patients with bipolar disorder. Brain Behav 2021; 11:e2289. [PMID: 34291610 PMCID: PMC8413766 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with bipolar disorder show mood instability, including heightened anger and impulsivity. The Ultimatum Game (UG) is a tool used to evaluate emotional and social decision-making strategies. We investigated behavioral and electrophysiological responses to subjectively fair or unfair offers in the UG in patients with bipolar I disorder. METHODS Twenty-four manic patients, 20 euthymic patients, and 30 healthy controls participated in this study. We analyzed their behaviors and collected electroencephalography data with which to analyze feedback-related negativity (FRN) as they played in the UG as responders. RESULTS Manic patients exhibited significantly higher rejection rates for unfair offers than euthymic patients and healthy controls. Healthy individuals exhibited a greater (i.e., more negative) FRN amplitude in response to unfair offers than to fair offers, whereas euthymic patients exhibited a greater FRN amplitude in response to fair offers compared with unfair offers. Manic patients exhibited no difference in FRN amplitudes between fair and unfair offers. CONCLUSIONS The current data suggest that different behavioral responses and FRN amplitude patterns can be associated with characteristic manifestations of mood instability in manic bipolar patients. In addition, electrophysiological alterations in response to unfair offers may be a trait abnormality independent of mood state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vin Ryu
- Department of Psychiatry, National Center for Mental Health, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ra Yeon Ha
- Department of Psychiatry, Yong In Mental Hospital, Gyeonggi, South Korea
| | - Hyun-Sang Cho
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.,Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
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Chen B, Wu X, Geniole SN, Ge Q, Chen Q, Zhao Y. Neural activity during provocation and aggressive responses in people from different social classes. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-01925-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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21
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Hauger LE, Havnes IA, Jørstad ML, Bjørnebekk A. Anabolic androgenic steroids, antisocial personality traits, aggression and violence. Drug Alcohol Depend 2021; 221:108604. [PMID: 33621808 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) use is associated with a wide range of adverse physical, psychological and social effects. While some experience few side effects, others might experience severe consequences. Aggression and violence are among the often-cited side effects associated with high-dose AAS use; however, most of the knowledge is generated from subgroups, such as prison populations. A likely hypothesis is that AAS use is associated with aggression and violence, but that these associations are complex and may be mediated by several factors, such as substance use, AAS dependence and personality traits. METHODS In the present study, we tested this hypothesis by examining the relations between long-term AAS use and AAS dependence, aggression, interpersonal violence and potential mediating factors in a sample of male AAS exposed and non-exposed weightlifting controls (WLC), using self-report questionnaires. Based upon AAS dependence criteria, a sample of male AAS users and WLC (N = 139) were stratified into three groups: WLC (n = 66), AAS dependents (n = 41) and AAS non-dependents (n = 32). RESULTS The results demonstrate that AAS dependents reported significantly higher levels of aggression compared to WLC and AAS non-dependents. While interpersonal violence was reported in all three groups, the highest percentage was found in the AAS dependent group. CONCLUSION In summary, our study confirms a link between AAS use, aggression and violence in a weightlifting population. However, the association is foremost seen in AAS dependent users and it seems that antisocial personality traits are an important mediator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa E Hauger
- The Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Research Group, The Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Postbox 4959, Nydalen, Norway; National Centre for Epilepsy, Division for Clinical Neuroscience, Oslo University Hospital, Postbox 4959, Nydalen, Norway.
| | - Ingrid A Havnes
- The Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Research Group, The Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Postbox 4959, Nydalen, Norway
| | - Marie L Jørstad
- The Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Research Group, The Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Postbox 4959, Nydalen, Norway
| | - Astrid Bjørnebekk
- The Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Research Group, The Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Postbox 4959, Nydalen, Norway
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Li L, Griffiths MD, Mei S, Niu Z. The Mediating Role of Impulsivity and the Moderating Role of Gender Between Fear of Missing Out and Gaming Disorder Among a Sample of Chinese University Students. CYBERPSYCHOLOGY BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL NETWORKING 2021; 24:550-557. [PMID: 33739873 DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2020.0283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The role of fear of missing out (FoMO) in addictive behaviors has recently attracted growing attention. In view of negative effects of gaming disorder (GD) among adolescents and emerging adults, research examining the relationship between FoMO and GD is needed, alongside the roles of impulsivity and gender in the relationship between FoMO and GD. This study examined whether impulsivity as a mediator and gender as a moderator impacted on the relationship between FoMO and GD among a sample of Chinese university students. A sample of 1,288 Chinese university students from three universities completed an online survey through the Wenjuanxing platform. The Chinese Trait-State Fear of Missing Out Scale, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-Brief, and the Chinese Gaming Disorder Scale were used in this study. The model results indicated that impulsivity partially mediated the relationship between FoMO and GD, and that there was a larger effect size between impulsivity and GD among males. High levels of FoMO among individuals may impact on executive functions leading to more impulsivity, and are associated with GD. Gender may moderate the relationship between impulsivity and GD. This study deepens the understanding of the relationship between FoMO and GD, and provides new perspectives for practitioners to incorporate into health prevention programs to help regulate emotion, control impulsivity, and decrease GD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Li
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Mark D Griffiths
- International Gaming Research Unit, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Songli Mei
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhimin Niu
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
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Jeyagurunathan A, Lau JH, Abdin E, Shafie S, Chang S, Samari E, Cetty L, Wei KC, Mok YM, Tang C, Verma S, Chong SA, Subramaniam M. Aggression Amongst Outpatients With Schizophrenia and Related Psychoses in a Tertiary Mental Health Institution. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:777388. [PMID: 35046853 PMCID: PMC8761620 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.777388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims: Aggression is defined as "any behavior intended to cause physical, emotional, or psychological harm to another." The aims of the current study were to (i) examine underlying factor structure of the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) and (ii) explore socio-demographic and clinical correlates (symptom severity, substance use and alcohol use) among patients with schizophrenia and related psychoses in a multi-ethnic Asian population. Methods: Data collected from 397 participants who were seeking outpatient treatment for schizophrenia and related psychoses at a tertiary psychiatric hospital were included in the analyses. BPAQ, a 29-item, four-factor instrument that measures physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger and hostility was used to assess aggression. Data on socio-demographic variables, age of onset of illness, drug use, alcohol use and symptom severity were also collected. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to establish the underlying factor structure of the BPAQ. Multiple regression analyses were utilized to examine socio-demographic and clinical correlates of the BPAQ factors. Results: The mean age of the participants was 36.2 years (SD = 10.9, range: 21-65). Factor structure obtained from the CFA indicated that a higher order four-factor solution had an acceptable fit to the observed data (WLSMV χ2 = 1,025.35, df = 320, RMSEA = 0.07, CFI = 0.94, TLI = 0.93, SRMR = 0.05). Females had lower physical aggression and hostility scores as compared to males. Those with lower education had higher physical aggression scores as compared to those with higher education. Participants who received a diagnosis after the age of 30 years had higher physical aggression and anger scores as compared to those who received a diagnosis at or before 20 years of age. Symptom severity was positively associated with higher BPAQ scores. Conclusion: The study findings demonstrated high internal consistency and applicable measurement factor structure of BPAQ in this study sample, making it an appropriate questionnaire for assessing aggressive behavior in this population. We also identified socio-demographic and clinical factors that were associated with aggression in patients with schizophrenia and related psychoses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jue Hua Lau
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Edimansyah Abdin
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Saleha Shafie
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sherilyn Chang
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ellaisha Samari
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Laxman Cetty
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ker-Chiah Wei
- Department of Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yee Ming Mok
- Department of Mood and Anxiety, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Charmaine Tang
- Department of Psychosis, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Swapna Verma
- Department of Psychosis, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Siow Ann Chong
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore
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Abu-Taweel GM. Effects of Perinatal Cardamom Exposure on Social Behavior, Anxiety, Locomotor Activity, Blood Biochemical Parameters and Brain Acetylcholinesterase of Mice Offspring. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2020; 21:1316-1324. [PMID: 31840611 DOI: 10.2174/1389201021666191216160546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 10/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardamom is the flavouring spices mainly cultivated all over the world. Apart from being used as the spice, it has many medicinal values. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the potential use of cardamom and its effects on the ability of learning, developmental, and various biochemical factors of Swiss-Webster mice offspring at different stages. METHODS In this method, Swiss-Webster mice offspring at different stages were used for the analysis of biochemical factors. After the administration of cardamom orally, the pups were subjected to various tests for determining social and defense behaviors of males and females, anxiety behavior; locomotor and neuromuscular activities, haemotological parameters, and hormonal factors of males and females. RESULTS The present findings indicate that the cardamom induced reduction in the social and defense behaviors of males and females, respectively, and also anxiety behavior. Interestingly, locomotor and neuromuscular activities decreased significantly. DISCUSSION In addition, the packed cell volume, red blood count, hemoglobin content, AChE in forebrain, the testosterone in males and progesterone in females were observed to increase significantly, whereas the blood platelets and total white blood count decreased non-significantly. Through perinatal exposure, cardamom can pass through the placenta or/and lactation and reaches the fetus. Care must be taken when using cardamom and especially during pregnancy and lactation. CONCLUSION The administration of cardamom enhances the ability of social, developmental, and various biochemical factors of Swiss-Webster mice offspring at different stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gasem M Abu-Taweel
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Jazan University, P.O. Box 2079, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia
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Hornung J, Lewis CA, Derntl B. Sex hormones and human brain function. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2020; 175:195-207. [PMID: 33008525 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-64123-6.00014-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Sex hormones have organizational and activational effects on the human brain and can interact with the neurotransmitter systems. These biologic mechanisms may have a far-reaching impact, with both behavioral consequences and structural as well as functional brain modulation. The impact of cycling hormone levels throughout the menstrual cycle on cognitive and emotion processing has especially received some attention recently. Therefore, the aim of this chapter is to give an overview of findings regarding the effects of estradiol and progesterone, but also testosterone, on functional brain domains comprising cognition, emotion, and reward processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Hornung
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Carolin A Lewis
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Birgit Derntl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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MacLean S, Demant J, Room R. Who or what do young adults hold responsible for men’s drunken violence? THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2020; 81:102520. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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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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Li Y, Ramoz N, Derrington E, Dreher JC. Hormonal responses in gambling versus alcohol abuse: A review of human studies. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2020; 100:109880. [PMID: 32004637 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.109880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2019] [Revised: 01/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The endocrine system plays an essential role in communication between various organs of the body to maintain homeostasis. Both substance use disorders (SUDs) and non-substance abuse disrupt this system and lead to hormonal dysregulations. Here, we focus on the comparison between the function of the endocrine system in gambling disorders and alcohol addiction to understand the commonalities and differences in their neurobiological and psychological underpinnings. We review human research to compare findings on gambling addiction and alcohol dependence pertaining to the dynamic interplay between testosterone and cortisol. Understanding and classifying similarities in hormonal responses between behavioural addiction and SUDs may facilitate development of treatments and therapeutic interventions across different types of addictive disorders, while describing differences may shed light on therapeutic interventions for specific disorders. Although research on gambling addiction is in its infancy, such evaluation may still have a positive effect for addiction research, thereby stimulating discovery of "crossover" pharmacotherapies with benefits for both SUDs and nonsubstance addictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yansong Li
- Competition, Addiction and Social Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychology, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Nicolas Ramoz
- Vulnerability of Psychiatric and Addictive Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM UMRS1266, Paris, France.
| | - Edmund Derrington
- Neuroeconomics Laboratory, Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, CNRS UMR 5229, Bron, France
| | - Jean-Claude Dreher
- Neuroeconomics Laboratory, Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, CNRS UMR 5229, Bron, France.
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30
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Sun Y, Wang Y, Han X, Jiang W, Ding W, Cao M, Du Y, Lin F, Xu J, Zhou Y. Sex differences in resting-state cerebral activity alterations in internet gaming disorder. Brain Imaging Behav 2020; 13:1406-1417. [PMID: 30178423 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-018-9955-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Although evidence has shown that the prevalence rates of Internet gaming disorder (IGD) differ between males and females, few studies have examined whether such sex differences extend to brain function. This study aimed to explore the sex differences in resting-state cerebral activity alterations in IGD. Thirty male participants with IGD (IGDm), 23 female participants with IGD (IGDf), and 30 male and 22 female age-matched healthy controls (HC) underwent resting-state functional MRI. Maps of the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and functional connectivity (FC) were constructed. A two-factor ANCOVA model was performed, with sex and diagnosis as the between-subject factors. Then, post hoc pair-wise comparisons were performed using two-sample t-tests within the interaction masks. The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11) was used to assess the behavioral inhibition function. We found that the ALFF values in the orbital part of the left superior frontal gyrus (SFG) were lower in IGDm than in HCm, which were negatively correlated with BIS-11 scores. IGDm also demonstrated lower connectivity between the orbital part of the left SFG and the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), the right angular gyrus, and the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex than HCm. Furthermore, IGDm had lower seed connectivity between the orbital part of the left SFG and the PCC than ICDf. Our findings suggest that (1) the altered ALFF values in the orbital part of the left SFG represent a clinically relevant biomarker for the behavioral inhibition function of IGDm; (2) IGD may interact with sex-specific patterns of FC in male and female subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yawen Sun
- Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, People's Republic of China
| | - Yao Wang
- Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu Han
- Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenqing Jiang
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry,Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, People's Republic of China
| | - Weina Ding
- Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengqiu Cao
- Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, People's Republic of China
| | - Yasong Du
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry,Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuchun Lin
- National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianrong Xu
- Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, People's Republic of China.
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Testosterone causes pleiotropic effects on cleanerfish behaviour. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15829. [PMID: 31676821 PMCID: PMC6825177 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51960-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mathematical modelling regarding evolutionary theory typically assumes that optimal strategies are not constrained through mechanistic processes. In contrast, recent studies on brain anatomy and neurobiology suggest that flexibility in social behaviour is rather constrained by the physiological state of the social decision-making network. Changing its state may yield selective advantages in some social contexts but neutral or even detrimental effects in others. Here we provide field evidence for such physiological trade-offs. We subjected wild female cleaner wrasse to injections of testosterone or of saline solution (control) and then observed both intraspecific interactions and interspecific cleaning behaviour with other reef fish, referred to as clients. Testosterone-treated females intensified intraspecific social interactions, showing more aggression towards smaller females and tendencies of increased aggressive and affiliative contacts with dominant males. Such testosterone-mediated changes fit the hypothesis that an increase in testosterone mediates female's focus on status in this protogynous hermaphrodite species, where females eventually change sex to become males. Moreover, we also identified other effects on interspecific social interactions: testosterone-treated females interacted less with client reef fishes and hence obtained less food. Most importantly, they selectively reduced service quality for species that were less likely to punish after being cheated. Overall, our findings suggest that testosterone causes pleiotropic effects on intra and interspecific social behaviour by broadly influencing female cleaners' decision-making.
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Wu Y, Liao J, Zilioli S, Wu Y, Deng H, Li H, Tobler PN. Testosterone administration increases social discounting in healthy males. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 108:127-134. [PMID: 31260872 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Although testosterone is thought to induce antisocial and aggressive behavior, research on social economic interactions has associated it with prosocial and affiliative behavior. Here, we investigated the effects of testosterone on social distance-dependent generosity in an economic discounting task where participants chose between selfish and generous alternatives. We administered testosterone gel or placebo to men in a double-blind, randomized design and measured how willing they were to share rewards with close and distant others. Across two studies (total n = 174), testosterone administration consistently increased social discounting, that is participants became more selfish, particularly with regard to distant others (vs. close others). This effect was not explained by testosterone-induced increases in social distance perception. Our findings provide causal evidence that-testosterone reduces generosity in human economic decision-making. Moreover, they suggest that the valuation and the perception of social distance are independently affected by testosterone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Wu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China; College of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Jiajun Liao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China; College of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Samuele Zilioli
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, United States; Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, United States
| | - Yan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Ministry of Education), Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huihua Deng
- Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Ministry of Education), Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hong Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China; College of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Philippe N Tobler
- Zurich Center for Neuroeconomics, Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Switzerland
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Zhu R, Liu C, Li T, Xu Z, Fung B, Feng C, Wu H, Luo Y, Wang L. Intranasal oxytocin reduces reactive aggression in men but not in women: A computational approach. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 108:172-181. [PMID: 31374475 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Aggression is an important behaviour that concerns individual survival and large-scale social stability. It comprises a variety of psychological subcomponents and is modulated by different biological factors. Two factors in particular, gender and oxytocin, appear to play a robust role in aggressive behaviour. However, whether these two factors interact to impact aggressive behaviour is not currently known. The current study investigated the modulating effect of gender on the relationship between oxytocin and aggression and characterized its underlying mechanisms by combining behavioural economic, pharmacological, and computational approaches. Specifically, we employed a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, between-subjects design, in which one hundred participants (50 men and 50 women) completed a norm-training version of the multi-round one-shot ultimatum game (UG) after intranasal oxytocin or placebo administration. Rejection rates in the UG were adopted as an indicator of reactive aggression. The results indicated that oxytocin compared with placebo administration decreased aggression among men but not among women. Further analyses suggested that this decrease in aggression was a result of changes in men's sensitivity to provocation and positive affect, rather than norm adaptation rates or concerns about the cost of aggression. These findings highlight the role of gender in the relationship between oxytocin and reactive aggression and reveal its underlying psychological and computational mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruida Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Ting Li
- Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation (IBRR), South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenhua Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Bowen Fung
- Division of Humanities and Social Sciences and Computation and Neural Systems Program, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA
| | - Chunliang Feng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Haiyan Wu
- Division of Humanities and Social Sciences and Computation and Neural Systems Program, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA; CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Yi Luo
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, USA.
| | - Li Wang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
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Reimers L, Kappo E, Stadler L, Yaqubi M, Diekhof EK. Endogenous testosterone correlates with parochial altruism in relation to costly punishment in different social settings. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7537. [PMID: 31523506 PMCID: PMC6717495 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Testosterone plays a key role in shaping human social behavior. Recent findings have linked testosterone to altruistic behavior in economic decision tasks depending on group membership and intergroup competition. The preferential treatment of ingroup members, while aggression and discrimination is directed towards outgroup members, has been referred to as parochial altruism. Here we investigated in two consecutive studies, whether testosterone is associated with parochial altruism depending on individual tendency for costly punishment. In the first study, 61 men performed a single-shot ultimatum game (UG) in a minimal group context, in which they interacted with members of an ingroup and outgroup. In the second study, 34 men performed a single-shot UG in a more realistic group context, in which they responded to the proposals of supporters of six political parties during the German election year 2017. Political parties varied in their social distance to the participants’ favorite party as indicated by an individual ranking. Participants of study 2 also performed a cued recall task, in which they had to decide whether they had already encountered a face during the previous UG (old-new decision). In order to make the UG data of study 2 most comparable to the data of study 1, the rejection rates of several parties were combined according to the social distance ranking they achieved. Parties ranked 1 to 3 formed the relatively close and favored ‘ingroup’ that shared similar political values with the participant (e.g., left wing parties), while the ‘outgroup’ consisted of parties ranked from 4 to 6 with more distant or even antagonistic political views (e.g., conservative to right wing parties). In both studies, results showed a parochial pattern with higher rejection rates made in response to outgroup compared to ingroup offers. Interestingly, across studies higher salivary testosterone was associated with higher rejection rates related to unfair outgroup offers in comparison to the unfair offers made by ingroup members. The present findings suggest that latent intergroup biases during decision-making may be positively related to endogenous testosterone. Similar to previous evidence that already indicated a role of testosterone in shaping male parochial altruism in male soccer fans, these data underscore the general, yet rather subtle role of male testosterone also in other social settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luise Reimers
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Neuroendocrinology and Human Biology Unit, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eli Kappo
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Neuroendocrinology and Human Biology Unit, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lucas Stadler
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Neuroendocrinology and Human Biology Unit, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mostafa Yaqubi
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Neuroendocrinology and Human Biology Unit, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Esther K Diekhof
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Neuroendocrinology and Human Biology Unit, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Hauger LE, Westlye LT, Fjell AM, Walhovd KB, Bjørnebekk A. Structural brain characteristics of anabolic-androgenic steroid dependence in men. Addiction 2019; 114:1405-1415. [PMID: 30955206 PMCID: PMC6767448 DOI: 10.1111/add.14629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
AIM To identify differences in brain morphology between dependent and non-dependent male anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users. DESIGN This study used cross-sectional data from a longitudinal study on male weightlifters. PARTICIPANTS Oslo University Hospital, Norway. SETTING Eighty-one AAS users were divided into two groups; AAS-dependent (n = 43) and AAS-non-dependent (n = 38). MEASUREMENTS Neuroanatomical volumes and cerebral cortical thickness were estimated based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using FreeSurfer. Background and health information were obtained using a semi-structured interview. AAS-dependence was evaluated in a standardized clinical interview using a version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, adapted to apply to AAS-dependence. FINDINGS Compared with non-dependent users, dependent users had significantly thinner cortex in three clusters of the right hemisphere and in five clusters of the left hemisphere, including frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital regions. Profound differences were seen in frontal regions (left pars orbitalis, cluster-wise P < 0.001, right superior frontal, cluster-wise P < 0.001), as has been observed in other dependencies. Group differences were also seen when excluding participants with previous or current non-AAS drug abuse (left pre-central, cluster-wise P < 0.001, left pars orbitalis, cluster-wise P = 0.010). CONCLUSION Male dependent anabolic-androgenic steroid users appear to have thinner cortex in widespread regions, specifically in pre-frontal areas involved in inhibitory control and emotional regulation, compared with non-dependent anabolic-androgenic steroid users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa E. Hauger
- The Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Research Group, National Advisory Unit on Substance Use Disorder Treatment, the Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Lars T. Westlye
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloNorway,Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Anders M. Fjell
- Research Group for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway,Department of Radiology and Nuclear MedicineOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Kristine B. Walhovd
- Research Group for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway,Department of Radiology and Nuclear MedicineOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Astrid Bjørnebekk
- The Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Research Group, National Advisory Unit on Substance Use Disorder Treatment, the Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
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36
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Bertozzi G, Salerno M, Pomara C, Sessa F. Neuropsychiatric and Behavioral Involvement in AAS Abusers. A Literature Review. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2019; 55:E396. [PMID: 31336641 PMCID: PMC6681542 DOI: 10.3390/medicina55070396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) are a complex group of molecules that include both steroidal androgens and synthetic compounds, derived from testosterone. AASs are commonly used to support pharmacological therapy in cases of primary or secondary hypogonadism, major burns, and neoplastic cachexia. Their prolonged and supra-physiological consumption can provoke several adverse effects on various organs and systems. Among these, the physiopathological mechanisms that induce neuropsychiatric disorders related to AAS abuse are poorly known. For this reason, the proposed review aims to retrace the pathway of action of testosterone to focus on the effects on the central nervous system and specifically highlight the effects of AASs on neuropsychiatric and behavioral functions, as well as on lifestyle. Materials and Methods: This review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar databases. On these database websites, we searched for articles from 1 January 1980 to March 2019 using the key terms: "AAS," "Anabolic Androgenic Steroids," "brain," and "neurology." Results: The use of AASs through self-administration yields circulating androgens levels, inducing neuron apoptosis, which is linked to thinner cortex and, in general, less cortical volume. The same alterations affect the putamen. These differences were more evident when correlated with longer use. From a functional point of view, prolonged AAS consumption seemed to be related to lower connectivity between amygdala and frontal, striatal, limbic, hippocampal and visual cortical areas. On the other hand, AAS use seems to negatively condition the positive effects of the sport exercise, reducing its important anti-apoptotic and pro-proliferative functions on the hippocampus, implicated in anxiolytic control. Conclusion: This review clarifies the major aspects of the side effects related to AAS use/abuse highlighting the complex mechanisms on neuropsychiatric and cognitive pathological alterations and also the emotional and behavioral dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Bertozzi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Monica Salerno
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, 95121 Catania, Italy
| | - Cristoforo Pomara
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, 95121 Catania, Italy
| | - Francesco Sessa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy.
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Exogenous testosterone increases sensitivity to moral norms in moral dilemma judgements. Nat Hum Behav 2019; 3:856-866. [DOI: 10.1038/s41562-019-0641-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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38
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Kaldewaij R, Koch SBJ, Zhang W, Hashemi MM, Klumpers F, Roelofs K. High Endogenous Testosterone Levels Are Associated With Diminished Neural Emotional Control in Aggressive Police Recruits. Psychol Sci 2019; 30:1161-1173. [PMID: 31251695 PMCID: PMC6691594 DOI: 10.1177/0956797619851753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Although police officers are carefully selected for their high emotion-regulation abilities, excessive aggression in police officers has been reported, particularly in socially challenging situations known to elicit high state testosterone levels. Adequate regulation of emotional actions depends on the prefrontal cortex’s control over the amygdala. We investigated the effects of trait aggression and endogenous testosterone on this emotional-control neurocircuitry in 275 healthy, high-functioning police recruits using a functional MRI social-emotional task eliciting impulsive and controlled approach-and-avoidance actions. Higher levels of aggression were counteracted by increased anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC) control over the amygdala when control over automatic emotional actions was required. Crucially, testosterone had a detrimental effect on this aggression-dependent aPFC recruitment: Police recruits with relatively high trait aggression and high state testosterone showed reduced aPFC control over the amygdala during emotion regulation. This provides a mechanistic explanation for inadequate behavioral control during socially challenging situations in otherwise well-functioning individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reinoud Kaldewaij
- 1 Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen.,2 Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen
| | - Saskia B J Koch
- 1 Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen.,2 Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen
| | - Wei Zhang
- 1 Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen.,2 Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen
| | - Mahur M Hashemi
- 1 Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen.,2 Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen
| | - Floris Klumpers
- 1 Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen.,2 Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen
| | - Karin Roelofs
- 1 Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen.,2 Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen
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Alaei R, Rule NO. People Can Accurately (But Not Adaptively) Judge Strangers’ Antigay Prejudice from Faces. JOURNAL OF NONVERBAL BEHAVIOR 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10919-019-00305-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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40
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Buades-Rotger M, Engelke C, Krämer UM. Trait and state patterns of basolateral amygdala connectivity at rest are related to endogenous testosterone and aggression in healthy young women. Brain Imaging Behav 2019; 13:564-576. [PMID: 29744800 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-018-9884-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The steroid hormone testosterone (T) has been suggested to influence reactive aggression upon its action on the basolateral amygdala (BLA), a key brain region for threat detection. However, it is unclear whether T modulates resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the BLA, and whether this predicts subsequent aggressive behavior. Aggressive interactions themselves, which often induce changes in T concentrations, could further alter BLA rsFC, but this too remains untested. Here we investigated the effect of endogenous T on rsFC of the BLA at baseline as well as after an aggressive encounter, and whether this was related to behavioral aggression in healthy young women (n = 39). Pre-scan T was negatively correlated with basal rsFC between BLA and left superior temporal gyrus (STG; p < .001, p < .05 Family-Wise Error [FWE] cluster-level corrected), which in turn was associated with increased aggression (r = .37, p = .020). BLA-STG coupling at rest might thus underlie hostile readiness in low-T women. In addition, connectivity between the BLA and the right superior parietal lobule (SPL), a brain region involved in higher-order perceptual processes, was reduced in aggressive participants (p < .001, p < .05 FWE cluster-level corrected). On the other hand, post-task increases in rsFC between BLA and medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) were linked to reduced aggression (r = -.36, p = .023), consistent with the established notion that the mOFC regulates amygdala activity in order to curb aggressive impulses. Finally, competition-induced changes in T were associated with increased coupling between the BLA and the right lateral OFC (p < .001, p < .05 FWE cluster-level corrected), but this effect was unrelated to aggression. We thus identified connectivity patterns that prospectively predict aggression in women, and showed how aggressive interactions in turn impact these neural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macià Buades-Rotger
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany.
- Institute of Psychology II, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
| | - Christin Engelke
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Ulrike M Krämer
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- Institute of Psychology II, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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Van den Berghe F, Paris MCJ, Sarnyai Z, Vlamings B, Millar RP, Ganswindt A, Cozzi A, Pageat P, Paris DBBP. Dog appeasing pheromone prevents the androgen surge and may reduce contact dominance and active submission after stressful interventions in African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus). PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212551. [PMID: 30917139 PMCID: PMC6436694 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The endangered African wild dog (AWD; Lycaon pictus) is a highly social canid living in packs with a separate male and female hierarchy. Immobilisation, handling and translocations are acute stressors for AWDs, however such interventions are often needed for species management. In addition, new pack formation or temporary pack separation can lead to an increase in intra-pack aggression. The goal of this double-blinded placebo-controlled study conducted in captive zoo populations was to evaluate whether dog appeasing pheromone (DAP) reduces behavioural stress and faecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels (fGCM) normally associated with pack separation, immobilisation and reintroduction (SIR), and to assess whether this reduces aggressive behaviours and faecal androgen metabolite levels (fAM). Four packs (n = 11 males) were treated with DAP and 4 packs (n = 12 males) were treated with a placebo solution, applied at the end of anaesthesia. Behavioural interactions as well as fGCM and fAM were determined from 3 days before until 4-6 days after SIR. No effect of DAP on fGCM was observed, however, fAM increased after SIR in placebo but not DAP treated animals. Moreover, on the day of reintroduction, DAP treated packs tended to have lower rates of contact-dominance and active-submission behaviour, but higher rates of non-contact dominance behaviour. As these effects could decrease the risk of agonistic interactions, DAP may be a useful tool to help manage new pack formations and temporary pack separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Femke Van den Berghe
- Gamete and Embryology (GAME) Laboratory, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- Institute for Breeding Rare and Endangered African Mammals (IBREAM), Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Monique C. J. Paris
- Institute for Breeding Rare and Endangered African Mammals (IBREAM), Edinburgh, Scotland
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Zoltan Sarnyai
- Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) and College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Bart Vlamings
- Institute for Breeding Rare and Endangered African Mammals (IBREAM), Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Robert P. Millar
- Institute for Breeding Rare and Endangered African Mammals (IBREAM), Edinburgh, Scotland
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Andre Ganswindt
- Institute for Breeding Rare and Endangered African Mammals (IBREAM), Edinburgh, Scotland
- Mammal Research Institute, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Endocrine Research Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Alessandro Cozzi
- Institut de Recherche en Sémiochimie et Ethologie Appliquée, Apt, France
| | - Patrick Pageat
- Institut de Recherche en Sémiochimie et Ethologie Appliquée, Apt, France
| | - Damien B. B. P. Paris
- Gamete and Embryology (GAME) Laboratory, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- Institute for Breeding Rare and Endangered African Mammals (IBREAM), Edinburgh, Scotland
- Centre for Tropical Environmental & Sustainability Science, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
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Aronoff JE, DeCaro JA. Life history theory and human behavior: Testing associations between environmental harshness, life history strategies and testosterone. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2018.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Exogenous testosterone and the monoamine-oxidase A polymorphism influence anger, aggression and neural responses to provocation in males. Neuropharmacology 2019; 156:107491. [PMID: 30639342 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 12/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Testosterone and the monoamine oxidase-A (MAOA) polymorphism are potential neuromodulators for aggression. By acting on similar brain circuits, they might interactively influence human behavior. The current study investigates the causal role of testosterone on aggression-related brain activity and the potential interaction with the MAOA polymorphism. In a double-blind process, 93 healthy males received a testosterone or placebo gel. In an fMRI session, participants performed a Taylor aggression paradigm in which they received provoking feedback and could afterwards decide how aggressively they would react. Testosterone and cortisol levels as well as subjective anger were assessed prior and after the task. Circulating testosterone levels were higher in carriers of the long compared to the short MAOA allele. An interaction of the MAOA polymorphism and testosterone administration was identified in the cuneus, where short allele carriers in the placebo group showed diminished activity in the decision period. Task-related anger was significantly higher in this group. Overall, a mesocorticolimbic network was implicated in processing of high versus low provoking feedback, and core hubs of the default mode network were implicated in the subsequent decision after high versus low provocation. Testosterone administration increased activation in this network. The data provides evidence for an interaction of the MAOA polymorphism and exogenous testosterone on anger and suggests that interactive effects on the brain signal could underlie differential emotional reactivity. The increased default mode activation in the testosterone group suggests an enhanced engagement of social cognition related regions possibly supporting responsivity towards social provocation. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Current status of the neurobiology of aggression and impulsivity'.
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Molero-Chamizo A, Martín Riquel R, Moriana JA, Nitsche MA, Rivera-Urbina GN. Bilateral Prefrontal Cortex Anodal tDCS Effects on Self-reported Aggressiveness in Imprisoned Violent Offenders. Neuroscience 2019; 397:31-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2018] [Revised: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Wallin-Miller K, Li G, Kelishani D, Wood RI. Anabolic-androgenic steroids alter decision making in a balanced rodent model of the Iowa gambling task. Behav Neurosci 2018; 132:152-160. [PMID: 29809043 DOI: 10.1037/bne0000243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse is implicated in maladaptive decision making such as increased risk taking and problem gambling. Endogenous testosterone correlates with economic risk taking in both the stock market (Coates & Herbert, 2008) and in the laboratory, as measured by the Iowa Gambling Task (Stanton, Liening, & Schultheiss, 2011). Additionally, AAS use has been associated with problem gambling behavior in adolescents (Proimos, DuRant, Pierce, & Goodman, 1998). Thus, AAS may impair economic decision making. However, studies of human AAS users cannot control for preexisting risky behavior or normalize androgen levels. Accordingly, the present study investigated AAS effects on decision making in rats using a novel, balanced rodent model of the IGT. Adolescent male Long-Evans rats were treated chronically with high-dose testosterone (7.5 mg/kg) or vehicle (13% cyclodextrin in water) sc, and trained to work for sugar pellets in an operant chamber equipped with 4 levers, each associated with a different schedule of reward magnitude (number of pellets), probability, and punishment (time-out) duration. By RM-ANOVA, there was a main effect of lever (F3,78 = 25.33, p < .05), such that all rats preferred lever L4 offering a large reward (4 pellets), but with low probability (45%) and a long (35 sec) time-out. There was also a significant interaction of testosterone × lever (F3,78 = 2.78, p < .05), with testosterone increasing preference for L4 and decreasing preference for the other levers, relative to vehicle-treated controls. These data extend our previous findings of altered decision making in AAS-treated rats, and suggest that AAS may alter economic decision making in human users. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Grace Li
- Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
| | - Diana Kelishani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University
| | - Ruth I Wood
- Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
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Heany SJ, Bethlehem RAI, van Honk J, Bos PA, Stein DJ, Terburg D. Effects of testosterone administration on threat and escape anticipation in the orbitofrontal cortex. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 96:42-51. [PMID: 29902666 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.05.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that the steroid hormone testosterone can decrease the functional coupling between orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and amygdala. Theoretically this decoupling has been linked to a testosterone-driven increase of goal-directed behaviour in case of threat, but this has never been studied directly. Therefore, we placed twenty-two women in dynamically changing situations of escapable and inescapable threat after a within-subject placebo controlled testosterone administration. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) we provide evidence that testosterone activates the left lateral OFC (LOFC) in preparation of active goal-directed escape and decouples this OFC area from a subcortical threat system including the central-medial amygdala, hypothalamus and periaqueductal gray. This LOFC decoupling was specific to threatening situations, a point that was further emphasized by an absence of such decoupling in a second experiment focused on resting-state connectivity. These results not only confirm that testosterone administration decouples the LOFC from the subcortical threat system, but also show that this is specifically the case in response to acute threat, and ultimately leads to an increase in LOFC activity when the participant prepares a goal-directed action to escape. Together these results for the first time provide a detailed understanding of functional brain alterations induced by testosterone under threat conditions, and corroborate and extend the view that testosterone prepares the brain for goal-directed action in case of threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Heany
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Richard A I Bethlehem
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jack van Honk
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Peter A Bos
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Dan J Stein
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; MRC Unit on Anxiety & Stress Disorders, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - David Terburg
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
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Attenuating anger and aggression with neuromodulation of the vmPFC: A simultaneous tDCS-fMRI study. Cortex 2018; 109:156-170. [PMID: 30343211 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2018.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Angry outbursts during interpersonal provocations may lead to violence and prevails in numerous pathological conditions. In the anger-infused Ultimatum Game (aiUG), unfair monetary offers accompanied by written provocations induce anger. Rejection of such offers relates to aggression, whereas acceptance to anger regulation. We previously demonstrated the involvement of the ventro-medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in accepting unfair offers and attenuating anger during an aiUG, suggestive of its role in anger regulation. Here, we aimed to enhance anger regulation by facilitating vmPFC activity during anger induction, using anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and simultaneously with functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to validate modulation of vmPFC activity. In a cross-over, sham-controlled, double-blind study, participants (N = 25) were each scanned twice, counterbalancing sham and active tDCS applied during administration of the aiUG. Outcome measures included the effect of active versus sham stimulation on vmPFC activity, unfair offers' acceptance rates, self-reported anger, and aggressive behavior in a subsequent reactive aggression paradigm. Results indicate that active stimulation led to increased vmPFC activity during the processing of unfair offers, increased acceptance rates of these offers, and mitigated the increase in self-reported anger following the aiUG. We also noted a decrease in subsequent aggressive behavior following active stimulation, but only when active stimulation was conducted in the first experimental session. Finally, an exploratory finding indicated that participants with a stronger habitual tendency to use suppression as an emotion regulation strategy, reported less anger following the aiUG in the active compared to sham stimulation conditions. Findings support a potential causal link between vmPFC functionality and the experience and expression of anger, supporting vmPFC's role in anger regulation, and providing a promising avenue for reducing angry and aggressive outbursts during interpersonal provocations in various psychiatric and medical conditions.
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Revisiting the form and function of conflict: Neurobiological, psychological, and cultural mechanisms for attack and defense within and between groups. Behav Brain Sci 2018; 42:e116. [PMID: 30251617 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x18002170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Conflict can profoundly affect individuals and their groups. Oftentimes, conflict involves a clash between one side seeking change and increased gains through victory and the other side defending the status quo and protecting against loss and defeat. However, theory and empirical research largely neglected these conflicts between attackers and defenders, and the strategic, social, and psychological consequences of attack and defense remain poorly understood. To fill this void, we model (1) the clashing of attack and defense as games of strategy and reveal that (2) attack benefits from mismatching its target's level of defense, whereas defense benefits from matching the attacker's competitiveness. This suggests that (3) attack recruits neuroendocrine pathways underlying behavioral activation and overconfidence, whereas defense invokes neural networks for behavioral inhibition, vigilant scanning, and hostile attributions; and that (4) people invest less in attack than defense, and attack often fails. Finally, we propose that (5) in intergroup conflict, out-group attack needs institutional arrangements that motivate and coordinate collective action, whereas in-group defense benefits from endogenously emerging in-group identification. We discuss how games of attack and defense may have shaped human capacities for prosociality and aggression, and how third parties can regulate such conflicts and reduce their waste.
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Jantz PB, Morley RH. Techniques of Neutralization: A Brain Network Perspective. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OFFENDER THERAPY AND COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY 2018; 62:2759-2780. [PMID: 28985695 DOI: 10.1177/0306624x17735045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Sykes and Matza introduced neutralization theory in 1957 to explain how juvenile delinquents retain a positive self-image when engaging in delinquent acts. Since then, aspects of neutralization theory have been incorporated into sociological and criminological theories to explain socially deviant behavior. Functional brain mapping research utilizing advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques has identified complex, intrinsically organized, large-scale brain networks. Higher order operations commonly attributed to three brain networks (default mode network [DMN], central executive network [CEN], salience network [SN]) align closely with neutralization theory. This article briefly discusses brain networks in general and the DMN, CEN, and SN specifically. It also discusses how these networks are involved when engaging in the use of techniques of neutralization and offers implications for future research.
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50
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Radke S, Seidel EM, Boubela RN, Thaler H, Metzler H, Kryspin-Exner I, Moser E, Habel U, Derntl B. Immediate and delayed neuroendocrine responses to social exclusion in males and females. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 93:56-64. [PMID: 29702443 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Social exclusion is a complex phenomenon, with wide-ranging immediate and delayed effects on well-being, hormone levels, brain activation and motivational behavior. Building upon previous work, the current fMRI study investigated affective, endocrine and neural responses to social exclusion in a more naturalistic Cyberball task in 40 males and 40 females. As expected, social exclusion elicited well-documented affective and neural responses, i.e., increased anger and distress, as well as increased exclusion-related activation of the anterior insula, the posterior-medial frontal cortex and the orbitofrontal cortex. Cortisol and testosterone decreased over the course of the experiment, whereas progesterone showed no changes. Hormone levels were not correlated with subjective affect, but they were related to exclusion-induced neural responses. Exclusion-related activation in frontal areas was associated with decreases in cortisol and increases in testosterone until recovery. Given that results were largely independent of sex, the current findings have important implications regarding between-sex vs. within-sex variations and the conceptualization of state vs. trait neuroendocrine functions in social neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Radke
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Jülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA) - BRAIN Institute 1, Brain Structure-Function Relationships: Decoding the Human Brain at Systemic Levels, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - E M Seidel
- Department of Applied Psychology: Health, Development, Enhancement and Intervention, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria; Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria
| | - R N Boubela
- MR Centre of Excellence, Medical University of Vienna, Lazarettgasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Centre for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - H Thaler
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria; Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstraße 2-10, 80804 Munich, Germany
| | - H Metzler
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria; Laboratoire de neurosciences cognitives, Département d'études cognitives, École normale supérieure, INSERM, PSL Research University, 29 rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France
| | - I Kryspin-Exner
- Department of Applied Psychology: Health, Development, Enhancement and Intervention, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria
| | - E Moser
- MR Centre of Excellence, Medical University of Vienna, Lazarettgasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Centre for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - U Habel
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Jülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA) - BRAIN Institute 1, Brain Structure-Function Relationships: Decoding the Human Brain at Systemic Levels, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - B Derntl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Calwerstr. 14, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Werner Reichardt Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 25, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; LEAD Graduate School, University of Tübingen, Gartenstr. 29, 72074 Tübingen,Germany
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