A randomized trial of the effect of estrogen and testosterone on economic behavior

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Apr 21;106(16):6535-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0812757106. Epub 2009 Apr 6.

Abstract

Existing correlative evidence suggests that sex hormones may affect economic behavior such as risk taking and reciprocal fairness. To test this hypothesis we conducted a double-blind randomized study. Two-hundred healthy postmenopausal women aged 50-65 years were randomly allocated to 4 weeks of treatment with estrogen, testosterone, or placebo. At the end of the treatment period, the subjects participated in a series of economic experiments that measure altruism, reciprocal fairness, trust, trustworthiness, and risk attitudes. There was no significant effect of estrogen or testosterone on any of the studied behaviors.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Altruism
  • Behavior / drug effects*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Economics*
  • Estrogens / administration & dosage
  • Estrogens / blood
  • Estrogens / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Placebos
  • Risk-Taking
  • Testosterone / administration & dosage
  • Testosterone / blood
  • Testosterone / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Estrogens
  • Placebos
  • Testosterone