Sex hormones and number processing. Progesterone and testosterone relate to hemispheric asymmetries during number comparison

Abstract

Like many visual stimuli, multi-digit numbers are of a hierarchical nature, with whole number magnitudes depending on individual digit magnitudes. Accordingly, multi-digit numbers can be processed in a holistic (whole number magnitudes) or decomposed manner (digit magnitudes). The compatibility effect during number comparison serves as an indicator of decomposed processing. It is characterized by impaired performance for items where the larger number contains the smaller unit-digit. We were recently able to demonstrate, that the compatibility effect indeed depends on an individual's tendency to process visual hierarchical stimuli on a global or local level. Accordingly, factors affecting global-local processing, should also affect number magnitude processing, i.e. the compatibility effect. Among these factors are hemispheric asymmetries, sex differences and sex hormones (estradiol, progesterone, testosterone). In the present study 39 men and 37 naturally cycling women in their luteal cycle phase completed a number comparison task with stimuli randomly presented to the left and right hemifield. As in previous studies, we observed a larger compatibility effect in the right hemifield (left hemisphere) than in the left hemifield (right hemisphere) and in men than in women. However, this is the first study to evaluate the effects of sex hormones on hemispheric asymmetries during number comparison. We found progesterone to relate to increased hemispheric asymmetries in men, but decreased hemispheric asymmetries in women. Additionally, testosterone was negatively related to hemispheric asymmetries in women's compatibility effect in reaction times. These results add to the growing evidence that sex hormones relate to hemispheric asymmetries in cognitive functions.