Testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and spatial task performances of males

Abstract

Fifty-eight male college students were administered two spatial tests—the Minnesota Paper Form Board (MPFB) and the Stafford Identical Blocks Test (SIBT). Testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels extant during testing were determined from four blood samples collected over the course of testing. Neither T nor DHT showed significant relationships to spatial ability, but the ratio DHT/T was significantly correlated with the MPFB scores. Subjects whose T and DHT values deviated most from the group means had significantly higher mean spatial test scores. The DHT/T deviation scores and T deviation scores were uncorrelated and together accounted for about 15% of the variance in the composite spatial ability scores. Given the inconsistency of previous findings regarding a relationship of T to spatial ability, the present results suggest that future studies should assess DHT as well as T, and that data should be carefully examined for possible curvilinear relationships as well. © 1990, The Psychonomic Soceity, Inc.. All rights reserved.