Fetal testosterone and autistic traits

Abstract

Studies of amniotic testosterone in humans suggest that fetal testosterone (fT) is related to specific (but not all) sexually dimorphic aspects of cognition and behaviour. It has also been suggested that autism may be an extreme manifestation of some male-typical traits, both in terms of cognition and neuroanatomy. In this paper, we examine the possibility of a link between autistic traits and fT levels measured in amniotic fluid during routine amniocentesis. Two instruments measuring number of autistic traits (the Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST) and the Child Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ-Child)) were completed by these women about their children (N=235), ages 6-10 years. Intelligence Quotient (IQ) was measured in a subset of these children (N=74). fT levels were positively associated with higher scores on the CAST and AQ-Child. This relationship was seen within sex as well as when the sexes were combined, suggesting this is an effect of fT rather than of sex per se. No relationships were found between overall IQ and the predictor variables, or between IQ and CAST or AQ-Child. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that prenatal androgen exposure is related to children exhibiting more autistic traits. These results need to be followed up in a much larger sample to test if clinical cases of ASC have elevated fT.

Gender Dysphoria and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…Studies assessing these brain domains in people (both males and females) with ASD have found an extreme version of the male brain, where systemising is above average and empathy is reduced [55,56]. It has been hypothesised that high levels of fetal testosterone are responsible for the EMB [57]. This theory could therefore account for the cooccurrence of Gender Dysphoria and ASD in trans males (natal females), but not trans females [22].…”

Autistic characteristics in adults with epilepsy

“…Although no single biological basis for autism has been found, one specific finding has been demonstrated by positive correlations of foetal testosterone levels and autistic traits (Auyeung et al, 2009). The high-testosterone prenatal environment implicated in the etiology of ASDs supports a prominent theory of ASD (see 3.4).…”

“…Despite these contradictory findings, the E-S theory is well supported by studies which suggest high levels of foetal testosterone are related to higher systemizing abilities in relation to empathising abilities and increased autistic traits (Auyeung et al, 2009). …”

Unraveling the evolution of uniquely human cognition

“…The systemizing-empathizing hypothesis proposes that high levels of androgen exposure during prenatal development can cause an extreme masculinization of the brain, leading to a (pathological) bias toward systemizing and resulting in deficits in empathic processes, such as the theory of mind. Baron-Cohen and coworkers suggest that autism spectrum disorders-which are characterized by deficits in theory of mind-are caused by an "extreme male brain" but also present data that, even in typically developing humans, prenatal androgen exposure is predictive of autistic traits measured later in childhood (80).…”