title: Testosterone and cortisol jointly modulate risk-taking.
abstract: Recent theories propose that testosterone should be positively related to risk-taking, but empirical support is mixed. Building on the dual-hormone hypothesis, the present research tested whether testosterone's role in risk-taking depends on cortisol. Study 1 (N=115) tested this hypothesis in a mixed-sex sample with self and informant reports of risk-taking. Study 2 (N=165) tested this hypothesis in a male-only sample with the Balloon Analog Risk Task, a behavioral measure of risk-taking. Across both studies, there was a positive association between basal testosterone and risk-taking among individuals low in basal cortisol but not individuals high in basal cortisol. This pattern emerged in both males and females and across multiple measures of risk-taking (self reports, informant reports, behavior). These studies provide novel empirical support for the claim that testosterone and cortisol jointly regulate risk-taking. Discussion focuses on putative mechanisms as well as implications for real-world risk-taking behaviors.
authors: University of Oregon, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97043, USA. Electronic address: mehta@uoregon.edu.
authors: Pranjal H
authors: PH
authors: Mehta
authors: University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Psychology, 325 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
authors: Keith M
authors: KM
authors: Welker
authors: Wayne State University, 42 W Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
authors: Samuele
authors: S
authors: Zilioli
authors: Nipissing University, 100 College Drive, North Bay, ON P1B8L7, Canada.
authors: Justin M
authors: JM
authors: Carré
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D057566:Self Report; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Cortisol; Impulsivity; Risk-taking; Testosterone; Traits