Sex hormones, Lateralization and Cognitive performance

Several theories and some empirical evidence has been put forward that sex hormones affect the development of the hemisphere differentially, or affect the corpus callosum. This would imply effects on brain lateralization and possibly behaviour. The current project investigates 1) the role of prenatal and current levels of exposure to sex hormones in children age 15y 2) the effects of cross-sex hormones on brain lateralization in transgenders. Lateralization is measured by fTCD or fMRI during several tasks such as word generation, spatial orientation and emotion recognition.

Main project

This project is part of project "Lateralization".

Researchers and partners

Behavioural and Social Sciences, Psychology

• Dr. R.H. (Reint) Geuze, PI, Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology
• T. (Tess) Beking, MSc, PhD student, Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology

University of Groningen, outside of Behavioural and Socials Sciences

• Prof. Dr. A.G.G. (Ton) Groothuis, Behavioural Biology, Gelifes, FWN

Education

Selection of BA and MA student projects

• The project will expire by the end of 2017

Results

Publications

• Beking, T., Geuze, R.H., Groothuis, T.G.G. (2017). Investigating Effects of Steroid Hormones on Lateralization of Brain and Behavior. In: L. Rogers & G. Vallortigara (Eds.) Lateralized Brain Functions Book. Methods in Human and Non-Human Species. pp 633-666. Springer. DOI10.1007/978-1-4939-6725-4_20 Print ISBN978-1-4939-6723-0 Online ISBN978-1-4939-6725-4
• Lust, J.M., Geuze, R.H., Van de Beek, C., Cohen-Kettenis, P.T., Groothuis, A.G.G. & Bouma, A. (2010). Sex specific effect of prenatal testosterone on language lateralization in children. Neuropsychologia 48: 536-540.

Successful grant proposals and other achievements

• 2013 NWO: Research talent grant (Geuze, Beking, Groothuis) Euro 60,000
• PhD T. Beking Projektnummer: 406-13-101
• Projekt: ‘Sex hormones, lateralization and cognitive performance’