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Testosterone reduces the threat premium in competitive resource division.

Testosterone reduces the threat premium in competitive resource division.

Authors :
Geniole, Shawn N.
Proietti, Valentina
Bird, Brian M.
Ortiz, Triana L.
Bonin, Pierre L.
Goldfarb, Bernard
Watson, Neil V.
Carré, Justin M.
Source :
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 5/22/2019, Vol. 286 Issue 1903, p1-8. 8p.
Publication Year :
2019

Abstract

Like other animals, humans are sensitive to facial cues of threat. Recent evidence suggests that we use this information to dynamically calibrate competitive decision-making over resources, ceding more to high-threat individuals (who appear more willing/able to retaliate) and keeping more from low-threat individuals. Little is known, however, about the biological factors that support such threat assessment and decision-making systems. In a pre-registered, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over testosterone administration study (n = 118 men), we show for the first time that testosterone reduces the effects of threat on decision-making: participants ceded more resources to highthreat (versus low-threat) individuals (replicating the ‘threat premium’), but this effect was blunted by testosterone, which selectively reduced the amount of resources ceded to those highest in threat. Thus, our findings suggest that testosterone influences competitive decision-making by recalibrating the integration of threat into the decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
09628452
Volume :
286
Issue :
1903
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
136757033
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.0720