Contributions of sex, testosterone, and androgen receptor CAG repeat number to virtual Morris water maze performance

Nicole T. Nowak; Michael P. Diamond; Susan J. Land; Scott D. Moffat

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.12.003

Contributions of sex, testosterone, and androgen receptor CAG repeat number to virtual Morris water maze performance

Nicole T. Nowak, Michael P. Diamond, Susan J. Land, Scott D. Moffat

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

The possibility that androgens contribute to the male advantage typically found on measures of spatial cognition has been investigated using a variety of approaches. To date, evidence to support the notion that androgens affect spatial cognition in healthy young adults is somewhat equivocal. The present study sought to clarify the association between testosterone (T) and spatial performance by extending measurements of androgenicity to include both measures of circulating T as well as an androgen receptor-specific genetic marker. The aims of this study were to assess the contributions of sex, T, and androgen receptor CAG repeat number (CAGr) on virtual Morris water task (vMWT) performance in a group of healthy young men and women. The hypothesis that men would outperform women on vMWT outcomes was supported. Results indicate that CAGr may interact with T to impact navigation performance and suggest that consideration of androgen receptor sensitivity is an important consideration in evaluating hormone-behavior relationships.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	13-22
Number of pages	10
Journal	Psychoneuroendocrinology
Volume	41
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.12.003
State	Published - 2014

Keywords

Androgen receptor CAG repeat
Sex difference
Spatial cognition
Testosterone
Virtual Morris water task

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Endocrinology
Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
Psychiatry and Mental health
Biological Psychiatry

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.12.003

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abstract = "The possibility that androgens contribute to the male advantage typically found on measures of spatial cognition has been investigated using a variety of approaches. To date, evidence to support the notion that androgens affect spatial cognition in healthy young adults is somewhat equivocal. The present study sought to clarify the association between testosterone (T) and spatial performance by extending measurements of androgenicity to include both measures of circulating T as well as an androgen receptor-specific genetic marker. The aims of this study were to assess the contributions of sex, T, and androgen receptor CAG repeat number (CAGr) on virtual Morris water task (vMWT) performance in a group of healthy young men and women. The hypothesis that men would outperform women on vMWT outcomes was supported. Results indicate that CAGr may interact with T to impact navigation performance and suggest that consideration of androgen receptor sensitivity is an important consideration in evaluating hormone-behavior relationships.",

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author = "Nowak, {Nicole T.} and Diamond, {Michael P.} and Land, {Susan J.} and Moffat, {Scott D.}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank Dr. Michael P. Diamond for his expertise, and donation of laboratory space; Dr. Susan J. Land from the Wayne State Applied Genomics Technology Center (supported, in part, by NIH Center grant P30 CA022453 ) for quantification of the CAGr; all of the staff at the Wayne State Clinical Research Center for their time; Victoria Good for her work as a research assistant; and all of our participants.",

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doi = "10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.12.003",

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AU - Land, Susan J.

AU - Moffat, Scott D.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank Dr. Michael P. Diamond for his expertise, and donation of laboratory space; Dr. Susan J. Land from the Wayne State Applied Genomics Technology Center (supported, in part, by NIH Center grant P30 CA022453 ) for quantification of the CAGr; all of the staff at the Wayne State Clinical Research Center for their time; Victoria Good for her work as a research assistant; and all of our participants.

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - The possibility that androgens contribute to the male advantage typically found on measures of spatial cognition has been investigated using a variety of approaches. To date, evidence to support the notion that androgens affect spatial cognition in healthy young adults is somewhat equivocal. The present study sought to clarify the association between testosterone (T) and spatial performance by extending measurements of androgenicity to include both measures of circulating T as well as an androgen receptor-specific genetic marker. The aims of this study were to assess the contributions of sex, T, and androgen receptor CAG repeat number (CAGr) on virtual Morris water task (vMWT) performance in a group of healthy young men and women. The hypothesis that men would outperform women on vMWT outcomes was supported. Results indicate that CAGr may interact with T to impact navigation performance and suggest that consideration of androgen receptor sensitivity is an important consideration in evaluating hormone-behavior relationships.

AB - The possibility that androgens contribute to the male advantage typically found on measures of spatial cognition has been investigated using a variety of approaches. To date, evidence to support the notion that androgens affect spatial cognition in healthy young adults is somewhat equivocal. The present study sought to clarify the association between testosterone (T) and spatial performance by extending measurements of androgenicity to include both measures of circulating T as well as an androgen receptor-specific genetic marker. The aims of this study were to assess the contributions of sex, T, and androgen receptor CAG repeat number (CAGr) on virtual Morris water task (vMWT) performance in a group of healthy young men and women. The hypothesis that men would outperform women on vMWT outcomes was supported. Results indicate that CAGr may interact with T to impact navigation performance and suggest that consideration of androgen receptor sensitivity is an important consideration in evaluating hormone-behavior relationships.

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Contributions of sex, testosterone, and androgen receptor CAG repeat number to virtual Morris water maze performance

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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