[Gender differences in cognitive functions and influence of sex hormones].
OBJECTIVE
To review scientific evidence on gender differences in cognitive functions and influence of sex hormones on cognitive performance.


METHODS
Systematical search of related studies identified in Medline.


RESULTS
Women outperform men on verbal fluency, perceptual speed tasks, fine motor skills, verbal memory and verbal learning. Men outperform women on visuospatial ability, mathematical problem solving and visual memory. No gender differences on attention and working memory are found. Researchers distinguish four methods to investigate hormonal influence on cognitive performance: a) patient with hormonal disorders; b) neuroimaging in individuals during hormone administration; c) in women during different phases of menstrual cycle, and d) in patients receiving hormonal treatment (idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, postmenopausal women and transsexuals). The findings mostly suggest an influence of sex hormones on some cognitive functions, but they are not conclusive because of limitations and scarcity of the studies.


CONCLUSIONS
There are gender differences on cognitive functions. Sex hormones seem to influence cognitive performance.
Torres
A
A
Institut Clínic de Neurociencias, Servicio de Psiquiatría y Psicología Clínica, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona. annatorresgim@yahoo.es
Gómez-Gil
E
E
Vidal
A
A
Puig
O
O
Boget
T
T
Salamero
M
M
D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones