In utero cortisol and testosterone exposure and fear reactivity in infancy

Bergman, Kristin; Glover, Vivette; Sarkar, Pampa; Abbott, DH; O’Connor, Thomas G.

doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2009.12.012

Cited by 78 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Removing a single male outlier did not significantly change these results. The sex difference in FT levels was in line with previous studies using amniotic measures of testosterone (Beck-Peccoz et al, 1991;Bergman, Glover, Sarkar, Abbott, & O'Connor, 2010;Sarkar, Bergman, Fisk, O'Connor, & Glover, 2007;van de Beek, Thijssen, Cohen-Kettenis, van Goozen, & Buitelaar, 2004;van de Beek, van Goozen, Buitelaar, & CohenKettenis, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Effects of Fetal Testosterone on Visuospatial Ability

et al. 2011

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This study investigated whether fetal testosterone (FT) measured from second trimester amniotic fluid was related to specific aspects of visuospatial ability, in children aged 7-10 years (35 boys, 29 girls). A series of tasks were used: the children's Embedded Figures Test (EFT) (a test of attention to detail), a ball targeting task (measuring hand-eye coordination), and a computerized mental rotation task (measuring rotational ability). FT was a significant predictor for EFT scores in both boys and girls, with boys also showing a clear advantage for this task. No significant sex differences were observed in targeting. Boys scored higher than girls on mental rotation. However, no significant relationships were observed between FT and targeting or mental rotation. Girls' performance on the mental rotation and targeting tasks was significantly related to age, indicating that these tasks may have been too difficult for the younger children. These results indicate that FT has a significant role in some aspects of cognitive development but that further work is needed to understand its effect on the different aspects of visuospatial ability.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Effects of Fetal Testosterone on Visuospatial Ability

et al. 2011

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“…This phenomenon may be related to a significant correlation between prenatal testosterone exposure and fear reactivity (Bergman et al, 2010), at least as far as potential sex differences are concerned. Infants who later will be diagnosed with ASDs show a range of behavioral reactions including problems with eye contact and social engagement that could be interpreted as avoidance responses consequent to the development of a fearful temperament (Zwaigenbaum et al, 2005).…”

Section: Effects Of Early Life Stress Greater In the Human Male: mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexually dimorphic responses to early adversity: Implications for affective problems and autism spectrum disorder

Davis¹,

Pfaff²

2014

Psychoneuroendocrinology

140

105

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During gestation, development proceeds at a pace that is unmatched by any other stage of the lifecycle. For these reason the human fetus is particularly susceptible not only to organizing influences, but also to pathogenic disorganizing influences. Growing evidence suggests that exposure to prenatal adversity leads to neurological changes that underlie lifetime risks for mental illness. Beginning early in gestation, males and females show differential developmental trajectories and responses to stress. It is likely that sex-dependent organization of neural circuits during the fetal period influences differential vulnerability to mental health problems. We consider in this review evidence that sexually dimorphic responses to early life stress are linked to two developmental disorders: affective problems (greater female prevalence) and autism spectrum disorder (greater male prevalence). Recent prospective studies illustrating the neurodevelopmental consequences of fetal exposure to stress and stress hormones for males and females are considered here. Plausible biological mechanisms including the role of the sexually differentiated placenta are discussed. We consider in this review evidence that sexually dimorphic responses to early life stress are linked to two sets of developmental disorders: affective problems (greater female prevalence) and autism spectrum disorders (greater male prevalence).

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“…The finding of poorer infant cognitive development with greater glucocorticoid exposure was also observed in a study measuring cortisol in amniotic fluid (Bergman et al 2010b). In contrast, no associations were found between cortisol in amniotic fluid and infant fear reactivity (Bergman et al 2010a) or between the maternal salivary cortisol awakening response and emotional regulation . There is some evidence that the relationship of higher morning cortisol levels and offspring behaviour persists to childhood with higher maternal cortisol levels during pregnancy associating with higher anxiety in childhood (Davis and Sandman 2012).…”

Section: Maternal Hpa Axis and Offspring Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 61%

Mechanisms Linking In Utero Stress to Altered Offspring Behaviour

Mina

Reynolds

2014

Behavioral Neurobiology of Stress-Related Disorders

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Development in utero is recognised as a determinant of health in later life, a concept known as early life 'programming'. Several studies in humans have now shown a link between in utero stressors of maternal stress, anxiety and depression and adverse behavioural outcomes for the offspring including poorer cognitive function and behavioural and emotional problems. These behaviours are observed from the very early neonatal period and appear to persist through to adulthood. Underlying mechanisms are not known but overexposure of the developing foetus to glucocorticoids has been proposed. Dysregulation of the maternal and offspring hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been proposed as a mechanism linking in utero stress with offspring behavioural outcomes. Studies suggest that altered circulating levels of maternal cortisol during pregnancy and/or changes in placental gene expression or methylation, which result in increased glucocorticoid transfer to the developing foetus, are linked to changes in offspring behaviour and in activity of the offspring HPA axis. Further understanding of the underlying pathways and identification of any gestation of vulnerability are needed to help design interventions to reduce in utero stress and improve behavioural outcomes in the offspring.

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In utero cortisol and testosterone exposure and fear reactivity in infancy

Cited by 78 publications

References 54 publications

Effects of Fetal Testosterone on Visuospatial Ability

Effects of Fetal Testosterone on Visuospatial Ability

Sexually dimorphic responses to early adversity: Implications for affective problems and autism spectrum disorder

Mechanisms Linking In Utero Stress to Altered Offspring Behaviour

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