A curvilinear relationship between testosterone and spatial cognition in humans: Possible influence of hand preference

Characterization of verbal and spatial memory changes from moderate to supraphysiological increases in serum testosterone in healthy older men

“…Thus, we did not find robust support for a quadratic or inverted U shaped relationship between change in cognitive performance and change in T or estradiol levels. It is possible that previous studies have found an inverted U shaped relationship due to the use of younger study samples of combined men and women (Gouchie & Kimura 1991, Moffat & Hampson 1996. Also it is important to consider the absolute hormone levels as these previous studies suggesting an inverted U relationship used only endogenous levels which are no where near the range of T levels in the present study achieved through supplementation.…”

“…In contrast, other studies have found no support for beneficial effects on cognition (Kenny et al 2004, O'Connor et al 2001, Sih et al 1997, Wolf et al 2000. It has been suggested that a positive relationship between testosterone and cognition may exhibit an inverted U shape dose-response, such that changes in cognition occur within a moderate dose range but not at high or low levels (Gouchie & Kimura 1991, Hampson & Moffat 1994, Hogervorst et al 2005, Moffat & Hampson 1996, Muller et al 2005, Shute et al 1983. In the present study, we directly examined the role of dose effects of T supplementation on cognition in a sample of healthy older men.…”

“…These previous studies along with another previous report of a significant quadratic association between endogenous T levels and spatial abilities, in the shape of an inverted U, have led many to suggest that there is a non-linear dose-response relationship between T and cognitive abilities (Gouchie & Kimura 1991, Hampson & Moffat 1994, Moffat & Hampson 1996, Muller et al 2005, Shute et al 1983). The inverted U-shaped relationship is described as optimal performance occurring within a specified mid-range of T, but not at higher or lower levels.…”

“…Studies of endogenous testosterone and cognition in young men and women have reported better performance in men with low compared to high T levels on spatial tasks such as paper folding, mental rotation and mathematical reasoning and in women with high compared to low T levels on these same tasks (Gouchie & Kimura 1991, Moffat & Hampson 1996. These previous studies along with another previous report of a significant quadratic association between endogenous T levels and spatial abilities, in the shape of an inverted U, have led many to suggest that there is a non-linear dose-response relationship between T and cognitive abilities (Gouchie & Kimura 1991, Hampson & Moffat 1994, Moffat & Hampson 1996, Muller et al 2005, Shute et al 1983).…”

Effects of gonadectomy and hormone replacement on a spontaneous novel object recognition task in adult male rats

“…For example, in both young and aged men, circulating testosterone levels have been positively correlated with performance in prefrontal tasks including mental rotation, verbal recall and divided attention (Cherrier et al, 2002;Cherrier et al, 2001;Christiansen and Knussmann, 1987;Moffat and Hampson, 1996;Yaffe et al, 2002). Studies in animal models also suggest an importance of gonadal steroid stimulation for prefrontal cortical function in males.…”