<p>I've discussed a lot of this recently on my answer to this question: <a href="https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/q/5740/4086">Are there recent theories on physiognomy?</a> In summary, yes.</p>

<ul>
<li>Can't remember which of the tons I referenced mentioned well-being, but if you run a search function (<code>Ctrl F</code>, or <code>⌘F</code> if you don't like good computers) on the text of the freely available articles I provided hyperlinks for, I guarantee you'll find it, and it was a positive relationship with testosterone.</li>
<li>Testosterone ($T$) might affect concentration, but I'd bet it's not a beneficial effect if so, or at least that it's moderated strongly by context. $T$ relates to spatial intelligence, but also to aggression, which may reflect some effect on impulsivity.</li>
<li>$T$ affects motivation, but again, I wouldn't call it a benefit, as the specific motives it affects probably aren't optimally healthy to say the least, and every action has its opportunity cost. Specifically, $T$ increases dominance and competitiveness in men, which is probably to say that it increases the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need_for_power" rel="nofollow noreferrer">need for power</a>. It also increases sensation seeking and risk tolerance / decreases risk aversion, which is probably to say that it affects the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray%27s_biopsychological_theory_of_personality#Behavioral_Inhibition_System" rel="nofollow noreferrer">behavioral activation and inhibition systems</a>. Some evidence suggests testosterone interacts with competitive experiences differently for women.</li>
<li>For logical/math/engineering problems, $T$ is probably more unequivocally beneficial, because it relates to spatial intelligence.</li>
</ul>

<p>$T$ is probably most studied in men; I'm not sure effects are similar for women in general. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estradiol" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Estradiol</a> in women may act more like testosterone in men in some ways. <sub> I can copy content from <a href="https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/a/5743/4086">my other answer</a> here if desired, or expand on particular points if there is further interest. Please comment if so; I would also welcome collaborative edits.</sub></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-24T00:08:19.207Z
2014-02-24T00:08:19.207Z
2017-04-13T12:56:16.467Z
Nick Stauner
<p>I've recently became interested in the effects if testosterone on the cognitive function in men, but cannot find much hard scientific evidence on the subject. </p>

<p><strong>What are the cognitive effects of increasing testosterone levels in men?</strong>. There's a tremendous amount of anecdotal evidence from body builders, etc, but I'm looking for hard science, where the levels were measured before and after, and the trials were less than a month long.</p>

<p>Some of the claims made about increased testosterone levels seem very interesting, and I would like to know if any of that is true. </p>

<ul>
<li>does increasing testosterone levels increase subjective feeling of well being in men?</li>
<li>does increased testosterone benefit concentration ?</li>
<li>does increased testosterone benefit non-sexual motivation or ambition?</li>
<li>does increased testosterone benefit logical/math/engineering endeavors?</li>
</ul>

<p>Here's what I see on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testosterone#Brain" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia snippet on testosterone and brain</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The <strong>literature suggests that attention, memory, and spatial ability
  are key cognitive functions affected by testosterone in humans</strong>.
  Preliminary evidence suggests that low testosterone levels may be a
  risk factor for cognitive decline and possibly for dementia of the
  Alzheimer's type,[70][71][72][73] a key argument in life extension
  medicine for the use of testosterone in anti-aging therapies. Much of
  the literature, however, suggests a curvilinear or even quadratic
  relationship between spatial performance and circulating
  testosterone,[74] where both hypo- and hypersecretion (deficient- and
  excessive-secretion) of circulating androgens have negative effects on
  cognition.</p>
</blockquote>

<cognitive-neuroscience><performance><testosterone>
What are the cognitive effects of increasing testosterone levels in men?
Alex Stone
# What are the cognitive effects of increasing testosterone levels in men?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-02-23)

I've recently became interested in the effects if testosterone on the cognitive function in men, but cannot find much hard scientific evidence on the subject.

**What are the cognitive effects of increasing testosterone levels in men?**. There's a tremendous amount of anecdotal evidence from body builders, etc, but I'm looking for hard science, where the levels were measured before and after, and the trials were less than a month long.

Some of the claims made about increased testosterone levels seem very interesting, and I would like to know if any of that is true.

* does increasing testosterone levels increase subjective feeling of well being in men?
* does increased testosterone benefit concentration ?
* does increased testosterone benefit non-sexual motivation or ambition?
* does increased testosterone benefit logical/math/engineering endeavors?

Here's what I see on [Wikipedia snippet on testosterone and brain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testosterone#Brain):

> The **literature suggests that attention, memory, and spatial ability
> are key cognitive functions affected by testosterone in humans**.
> Preliminary evidence suggests that low testosterone levels may be a
> risk factor for cognitive decline and possibly for dementia of the
> Alzheimer's type,[70][71][72][73] a key argument in life extension
> medicine for the use of testosterone in anti-aging therapies. Much of
> the literature, however, suggests a curvilinear or even quadratic
> relationship between spatial performance and circulating
> testosterone,[74] where both hypo- and hypersecretion (deficient- and
> excessive-secretion) of circulating androgens have negative effects on
> cognition.

**Tags:** cognitive-neuroscience, performance, testosterone


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-02-24. Score: 6

I've discussed a lot of this recently on my answer to this question: [Are there recent theories on physiognomy?](https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/q/5740/4086) In summary, yes.

* Can't remember which of the tons I referenced mentioned well-being, but if you run a search function (`Ctrl F`, or `⌘F` if you don't like good computers) on the text of the freely available articles I provided hyperlinks for, I guarantee you'll find it, and it was a positive relationship with testosterone.
* Testosterone ($T$) might affect concentration, but I'd bet it's not a beneficial effect if so, or at least that it's moderated strongly by context. $T$ relates to spatial intelligence, but also to aggression, which may reflect some effect on impulsivity.
* $T$ affects motivation, but again, I wouldn't call it a benefit, as the specific motives it affects probably aren't optimally healthy to say the least, and every action has its opportunity cost. Specifically, $T$ increases dominance and competitiveness in men, which is probably to say that it increases the [need for power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need_for_power). It also increases sensation seeking and risk tolerance / decreases risk aversion, which is probably to say that it affects the [behavioral activation and inhibition systems](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray%27s_biopsychological_theory_of_personality#Behavioral_Inhibition_System). Some evidence suggests testosterone interacts with competitive experiences differently for women.
* For logical/math/engineering problems, $T$ is probably more unequivocally beneficial, because it relates to spatial intelligence.

$T$ is probably most studied in men; I'm not sure effects are similar for women in general. [Estradiol](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estradiol) in women may act more like testosterone in men in some ways.  I can copy content from [my other answer](https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/a/5743/4086) here if desired, or expand on particular points if there is further interest. Please comment if so; I would also welcome collaborative edits.


---

