The dual-hormone hypothesis and decision making

Abstract

Decision making is a part of everyday life, so it is important to understand the mechanisms that influence it. Hormonal mechanisms likely play a role, and both testosterone and cortisol have been demonstrated to alter cognition. The purpose of this study was to examine how testosterone and cortisol are related to decision making. Fortythree undergraduate students participated (30 women, 13 men, mean age = 19). Participants provided a saliva sample immediately before completing two measures, the Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) and the CRT-2. It was hypothesized that higher salivary testosterone levels would predict lower scores on the CRT and the CRT-2. Taking into account the dual-hormone hypothesis, it was hypothesized that the relationship between testosterone and cognitive reflection would be moderated by salivary cortisol, such that the relationship would not exist when cortisol levels were high. Testosterone was not correlated with CRT scores, but cortisol was negatively correlated with CRT scores for men only. In a multiple regression analysis with testosterone, cortisol, and their interaction predicting CRT scores, the overall model was significant for men, but no individual variables predicted CRT scores. There was no relationship between hormones and CRT scores for women. Further research is needed to help clarify the impact of these hormones on decision making.