Male vs. Female Brain Differences & How They Arise From Genes & Hormones | Dr. Nirao Shah

My guest is Dr. Nirao Shah, MD, PhD, a professor of psychiatry, behavioral sciences and neurobiology at Stanford University School of Medicine. We discuss how the brains of males and females differ and how those differences arise from different genes and hormones during fetal development, in childhood and adulthood. We discuss what drives male- versus female-specific behaviors and how hormonal fluctuations across the lifespan, including puberty, the menstrual cycle, menopause and aging – affect behavior, cognition and health. Additionally, we discuss how biology relates to gender identity and the impact of hormone therapies on brain circuits that regulate mating, parenting and social bonding.

Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.

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Timestamps

00:00:00Nirao Shah

00:02:11Mice, Humans & Brain, Biological Conservation

00:05:25Hormones, Nature vs Nurture

00:07:13Biological Sex Differences, Chromosomes & SRY Gene, Hormones

00:16:01Sponsors: Maui Nui & Eight Sleep

00:19:09Androgen Mutations, Feminization & Masculinization

00:22:04SRY Gene; Animals & Sexual Trans-Differentiation

00:27:49Hormones & Biological Brain Differentiation

00:31:22Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Androstenedione; Stress & Pregnancy

00:35:56Genes, Brain Differentiation & Sexual Identity; Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

00:43:37Testosterone, Estrogen & Brain Circuits

00:47:27Sponsors: AG1 & LMNT

00:50:36Intersex Individuals, Castration

00:52:23Female Sexual Behavior, Brain, Testosterone & Pheromones

00:57:58Identify as Heterosexual or Homosexual, Difference in Hormone Levels?

01:00:42Gender, Sexual Orientation & Hormones; Hormone Replacement Therapy

01:10:21Aromatization; Steroid Hormones & Gene Expression

01:15:00Kids & Changing Gender Identity

01:19:05Sexual Behavior, Refractory Period & Male Brain, Tacr1 Cells

01:21:31Sponsor: Function

01:23:19Hypothalamus, Dopamine, Prolactin, Cabergoline, Libido, Dopamine

01:27:05Brain Circuits, Aggression & Sexual Behavior

01:32:40Refractory Period; Age, Testosterone & Libido

01:36:07Tacr1 Cells in Females, Periaqueductal Gray & Innate Behaviors

01:40:00Parenting Behaviors & Brain Circuits; Pet Dogs

01:43:12Oxytocin, Pair Bonding, Vasopressin; Biological Redundancy

01:47:22Libido, Melanocortin, Tacr1 Neurons; GLP-1 Agonists, Clinical Trials; Kisspeptin

01:56:43Female Brain Changes, Menstrual Cycle, Pregnancy, Menopause; Estrogen; Men & Hormone Fluctuation?

02:04:10Life Experience Male vs Female, Sex Recognition, Behaviors & Context

02:16:05Pain Management; Endocrine Disrupters, Gender Identity

02:21:03Future Projects

02:24:29Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

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