Are We Our Hormones? | Lecture and conversation with neuroscientist Anna Tyborowska and psychologist Lotte Gerritsen

Tyborowska shared findings from a longitudinal study of adolescents who returned at ages 14, 17, and again at 21. This research showed that higher levels of testosterone were initially associated with greater emotional control; however, by age 21, this association faded, indicating that testosterone's role in brain development changes as individuals mature. Tyborowska connected these findings to the misconception that testosterone inherently drives irrationality, clarifying that such assumptions stem from studies focusing exclusively on older adolescents rather than younger ones. The study also noted that adolescents who had experienced significant early-life stress exhibited hormonal profiles that typically align with older age groups, suggesting that stress may accelerate brain and hormonal maturation. This could potentially heighten the risk of psychological challenges in adulthood, though she did note that further research is needed to confirm this.

Gerritsen took over again at this point, and turned to myths surrounding hormonal interventions, such as birth control and supplements. She highlighted that although contraceptives stabilize hormonal fluctuations, they don’t universally “mess with” women’s moods, as is often assumed. Her studies monitored mood, stress, risk-taking, energy, and sleep over 30 days, revealing that those on contraceptives generally showed less variability in these areas, with the exception of naturally cycling women who tended to report slightly higher energy levels. While contraceptives’ stabilizing effects can be positive for individuals with lower baseline moods, those with generally high moods may experience unwanted emotional flattening. Gerritsen emphasized the need for more nuanced studies to understand these impacts.

Gerritsen also touched on the perimenopausal phase, which often starts as early as age 40. Despite the focus on physical symptoms like hot flashes, women frequently report that mental symptoms—such as heightened anxiety or anger—are far more disruptive. She argued that this period is underdiscussed in medical and social discourse, resulting in a lack of awareness and support. Furthermore, Gerritsen highlighted how misinterpretations of hormonal research can perpetuate biases, sharing an example of a study suggesting that women’s brains are permanently altered by pregnancy, supposedly making them less suited for leadership roles. She pointed out that while the study examined mothers, it omitted fathers, reflecting a double standard in how parental brain changes are perceived and researched.

Announcement

Hormones have a tremendous effect on our lives. They can influence our behavior and our emotions and even the way our brains are structured. To what extent do hormones define us? And why are women often thought to be way more defined by their hormones than men? What actually are the differences between men and women when it comes to hormones? Come and listen to neuroscientist Anna Tyborowska and psychologist Lotte Gerritsen, and discover how our hormones shape who we are. 

Hormones and the brain

We have long known that our brains and hormones are interconnected. But how interconnected are they? It’s becoming more and more clear that hormones also influence the very structure of our brain as it matures. In that sense, who you are may be largely decided by your hormones. What even are hormones, and how do they work? Why do we still know so little about them and how they interact? And what happens when you introduce new hormones into your body, such as anticonception, hormone-therapy or steroids?  

Male and female hormones

Men are more aggressive because they have more testosterone than women. And women are less rational during their periods. Right? Hormone-myths like these are still widely believed, although they have long been criticized and debunked by scientists. But what do hormones like testosterone and estrogen really do? Why do we know so little about the effects of hormones on different sexes? How do our ideas about hormones shape the way we see equality between people of different sexes, and what will change as we learn more about our hormones?  And is there such a thing as “male” and “female” hormones?

Neuroscientist Anna Tyborowska and psychologist Lotte Gerritsen discuss the extent to which hormones affect and shape our lives, bodies and brains. Come listen and ask your questions. 

This progamme is in English. 

About the speakers

Anna Tyborowska is a neuroscientist at Radboud University and affiliated with the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior and with the Behavioural Science Institute. She investigates processes such as emotion control, stress and threat reactivity, and the impact of hormones (e.g., testosterone) on neuro-maturation, emotion regulation, and mental well-being.

Lotte Gerritsen is a psychologist at Utrecht University. Her research is currently focused on combining sex hormones, stress hormones, neuroimaging (EEG, MRI) and behavioral data to understand individual differences in emotion regulation and stress sensitivity using a lifespan approach.