Hormone-behavior associations in early infancy

Horm Behav. 2009 Nov;56(5):498-502. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2009.08.003. Epub 2009 Aug 19.

Abstract

The physiological significance of hormonal changes in early postnatal life is emerging, but the behavioral significance in humans is unknown. As a first test of the relationship between hormones and behavior in early infancy we measured digit ratios and salivary hormone levels in forty-one male and female infants (3-4 months of age) who watched a video depicting stimuli differentially preferred by older males and females (toys, groups). An eye-tracker measured visual fixations and looking times. In female infants, hormones were unrelated to visual preferences. In male infants, higher androgen levels predicted stronger preferences for male-typical stimuli. These data provide the first evidence for a role for hormones in emerging sex-linked behavior in early development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Child Development
  • Choice Behavior / physiology*
  • Discrimination, Psychological / physiology
  • Estradiol / metabolism*
  • Eye Movements / physiology*
  • Female
  • Fingers / anatomy & histology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant Behavior / physiology*
  • Male
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual / physiology
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Play and Playthings
  • Saliva / metabolism
  • Sex Factors
  • Testosterone / metabolism*
  • Visual Perception / physiology

Substances

  • Testosterone
  • Estradiol