The effects of sex steroids on spatial performance: a review and an experimental clinical investigation.
Males typically surpass females in spatial performance, an outcome that may be linked to testosterone and estrogen. The authors (a) review physiological mechanisms, developmental periods, and past empirical work relevant to sex steroids' effects on human spatial performance and (b) report an experimental study of the role of actively circulating sex steroids in adolescents being treated for delayed puberty (N = 55; mean age = 13.70 years). Sex steroids (simulating early, middle, and late puberty) and placebos were given alternately over 21 months and spatial tests were given every 3 months. Spatial performance showed traditional sex differences but did not vary with levels of actively circulating sex steroids.
Liben
Lynn S
LS
Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA. liben@psu.edu
Susman
Elizabeth J
EJ
Finkelstein
Jordan W
JW
Chinchilli
Vernon M
VM
Kunselman
Susan
S
Schwab
Jacqueline
J
Dubas
Judith Semon
JS
Demers
Laurence M
LM
Lookingbill
Georgia
G
Darcangelo
M Rose
MR
Krogh
Holleen R
HR
Kulin
Howard E
HE
D000293:Adolescent; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011628:Puberty, Delayed / Q000188:drug therapy; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D013739:Testosterone