Effects of Testosterone Administration on Threat and Escape Anticipation in the Orbitofrontal Cortex

The steroid hormone testosterone has a well-established role in the reduction of fear and the promotion of dominance motivation and aggression in many species (Mazur and Booth, 1998; Wingfield et al, 1990). In humans, the neural mechanisms underlying these effects are not yet clear, but it has been suggested that testosterone administration can decouple the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) from subcortical threat reactivity, leading to an increase in impulse-driven and goal-directed behaviour in response to threat (Terburg and van Honk, 2013b; van Honk et al, 2011).

Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - May 30, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Sarah J. Heany, Richard A.I. Bethlehem, Jack van Honk, Peter A. Bos, Dan J. Stein, David Terburg Source Type: research