Prenatal exposure to testosterone and functional cerebral lateralization: a study in same-sex and opposite-sex twin girls

Cohen-Bendahan, Celina C. C.; Buitelaar, Jan K.; Goozen, Stephanie Helena Maria Van; Cohen‐Kettenis, Peggy T.

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2003.07.001

Cited by 98 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…This indicates that (relatively low) levels of sex steroids at the age of nine cannot explain the global larger brain volumes in males, or in children with a male co-twin. Our results are comparable with the earlier described masculinizing effects of a male co-twin on cerebral asymmetry (left hemispheric dominance in processing verbal stimuli) (17) aggression (18) and disordered eating (20). Most studies applying the 'same sexopposite sex' twin paradigm focused on the masculinizing effects of a male co-twin on females only.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…the maternal-fetal transfer route (via maternal bloodstream), and the fetofetal transfer route (hormones diffusing through amniotic membranes) (16). Some studies applying this 'same sex-opposite sex paradigm' confirm the masculinizing effect of a male co-twin on a female for less left hemispheric dominance in processing verbal stimuli (17), more aggression (18), less reproductive fitness (19), and disordered eating (20). However, other studies did not demonstrate a masculinizing effect of a male co-twin e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Does having a twin brother make for a bigger brain?

Peper

Brouwer

Baal

et al. 2009

European Journal of Endocrinology

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Objective: Brain volume of boys is larger than that of girls by w10%. Prenatal exposure to testosterone has been suggested in the masculinization of the brain. For example, in litter-bearing mammals intrauterine position increases prenatal testosterone exposure through adjacent male fetuses, resulting in masculinization of brain morphology. Design: The influence of intrauterine presence of a male co-twin on masculinization of human brain volume was studied in 9-year old twins. Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging brain scans, current testosterone, and estradiol levels were acquired from four groups of dizygotic (DZ) twins: boys from same-sex twin-pairs (SSM), boys from opposite-sex twin-pairs (OSM), girls from opposite-sex twin-pairs (OSF), and girls from same-sex twinpairs (SSF; nZ119 individuals). Data on total brain, cerebellum, gray and white matter volumes were examined. Results: Irrespective of their own sex, children with a male co-twin as compared to children with a female co-twin had larger total brain (C2.5%) and cerebellum (C5.5%) volumes. SSM, purportedly exposed to the highest prenatal testosterone levels, were found to have the largest volumes, followed by OSM, OSF and SSF children. Birth weight partly explained the effect on brain volumes. Current testosterone and estradiol levels did not account for the volumetric brain differences. However, the effects observed in children did not replicate in adult twins. Conclusions: Our study indicates that sharing the uterus with a DZ twin brother increases total brain volume in 9-year olds. The effect may be transient and limited to a critical period in childhood.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does having a twin brother make for a bigger brain?

Peper

Brouwer

Baal

et al. 2009

European Journal of Endocrinology

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“…Cohen-Bendahan et al (2004) report significant differences in cerebral lateralization patterns, with opposite-sex female twins having more masculine patterns than same-sex females. Similarly, McFadden (2002) reports that females from opposite-sex pairs have masculinized patterns of auditory evoked potentials compared with same-sex females.…”

Section: Being Opposite and Biological Exposurementioning

confidence: 89%

Being Opposite: Is There Advantage for Social Competence and Friendships in Being an Opposite-Sex Twin?

Laffey-Ardley

Thorpe

2006

twin res hum genet

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A recent large-scale study of Finnish adolescent twins (Pulkkinen et al., 2003) reported that individuals from opposite-sex twin pairs were more socially adaptive than individuals from same-sex pairs or singletons. This finding raised questions about the social learning effects of being an opposite-sex twin. The current article predicted on the basis of this finding, and evidence from singleton populations, that having an opposite-sex twin would yield social advantage. It sought to examine the social competencies of opposite-sex twins and compare them with same-sex twins and singletons. The study focused on the preschool years (age 3 to 6), a period in which the majority of children encounter their first large group, nonfamilial social experiences. The study obtained reports from parents and teachers of children aged 3 to 6 years: 72 children (36 pairs) who were dizygotic opposite-sex twins (DZOS), 50 children (25 pairs) who were dizygotic same-sex twins (DZSS), and 85 singletons of the same age and sex as the twins, who had at least one sibling. Reports were made using standardized measures of social competencies, behavior problems, language development and friendships. The main effects found were of differences in social competency between twins and singletons. Twins had lower social competency scores. No differences between same-sex and opposite-sex twins were found. The findings did not support the hypothesis of social advantage for opposite-sex twins in early childhood.

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“…In a recent study of cerebral lateralization assessed with a verbal dichotic listening task in pre-adolescent 10-year-old twins, OS girls had a more masculine pattern of cerebral lateralization than did the SS girls, reflected in a larger right ear advantage. The result was interpreted to reflect an effect of prenatal testosterone on hemispheric specialization [183]. It is interesting to note, however, that the effect was no longer present when the girls were retested at age 13 [289], and another study failed to find effects of co-twin sex on handedness [185].…”

Section: Physical Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prenatal sex hormone effects on child and adult sex-typed behavior: methods and findings

Cohen-Bendahan

Beek

Berenbaum

2005

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

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There is now good evidence that human sex-typed behavior is influenced by sex hormones that are present during prenatal development, confirming studies in other mammalian species. Most of the evidence comes from clinical populations, in which prenatal hormone exposure is atypical for a person's sex, but there is increasing evidence from the normal population for the importance of prenatal hormones. In this paper, we briefly review the evidence, focusing attention on the methods used to study behavioral effects of prenatal hormones. We discuss the promises and pitfalls of various types of studies, including those using clinical populations (concentrating on those most commonly studied, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, androgen insensitivity syndrome, ablatio penis, and cloacal exstrophy), direct measures of hormones in the general population (assayed through umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid, and maternal serum during pregnancy), and indirect measures of hormones in the general population (inferred from intrauterine position and biomarkers such as otoacoustic emissions, finger length ratios, and dermatoglyphic asymmetries). We conclude with suggestions for interpreting and conducting studies of the behavioral effects of prenatal hormones. q

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Prenatal exposure to testosterone and functional cerebral lateralization: a study in same-sex and opposite-sex twin girls

Cited by 98 publications

References 29 publications

Does having a twin brother make for a bigger brain?

Does having a twin brother make for a bigger brain?

Being Opposite: Is There Advantage for Social Competence and Friendships in Being an Opposite-Sex Twin?

Prenatal sex hormone effects on child and adult sex-typed behavior: methods and findings

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