title: In utero testosterone exposure influences physiological responses to dyadic interactions in neurotypical adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated how different levels of prenatal exposure to testosterone influence physiological reactions to dyadic interactions, hypothesising that higher levels of prenatal testosterone are linked to greater physiological responses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Autonomic nervous system responses to dyadic interactions focussed on social or physical norms were measured. Physiological assessment of excitability (heart rate, facial temperature) and a behavioural assessment (Likert items judgements) were run on 25 neurotypical participants who had distinct testosterone exposure levels in utero. In utero exposure to testosterone was assessed measuring 2D : 4D (ratio between the lengths of the index and the ring fingers).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher testosterone exposure participants showed greater physiological arousal: a greater heart rate decrease, independent from scenario type (p<0.05), and opposite facial temperature changes in response to social (increase) (vs.) physical scenarios (decrease) were found (Left-cheek: p<0.05; Right-cheek: p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest a long-term influence of prenatal environment on adults' physiological responses during social situations.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science,University of Trento,Rovereto,TN,Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Truzzi
authors.affiliation: 2Psychometric Laboratory,Department of Psychology,Second University of Naples,Naples,Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo Paolo
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Senese
authors.affiliation: 3Division of Psychology,School of Humanities and Social Sciences,Nanyang Technological University,Singapore.
authors.forename: Peipei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Setoh
authors.affiliation: 4Institute of Human Physiology,Università Cattolica,Rome,Italy.
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ripoli
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science,University of Trento,Rovereto,TN,Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9442-0254
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esposito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D001519:Behavior; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone
keywords: interpersonal relations; physiology; prenatal exposure delayed effects; testosterone