Testosterone induces off-line perceptual learning

• Published in: Psychopharmacologia Vol. 224; no. 3; pp. 451 - 457
• Main Authors: Wright, Nicholas D., Edwards, Thomas, Fleming, Stephen M., Dolan, Raymond J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.12.2012; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Androgens; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Contrast Sensitivity - drug effects; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Female; Hormones; Human subjects; Humans; Learning; Learning - drug effects; Medical sciences; Neuropsychological Tests; Neurosciences; Original Investigation; Perceptions; Pharmacology; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Photic Stimulation; Psychiatry; Testosterone; Testosterone - pharmacology; Time Factors; Toy industry; Young Adult; United Kingdom; Learning; Testosterone; Visual; Timescale; Androgen; Vision; Testicular hormone; Sex steroid hormone; Perceptive learning
• ISSN: 0033-3158; 1432-2072; 1432-2072
• DOI: 10.1007/s00213-012-2769-y

Rationale Perceptual learning operates on distinct timescales. How different neuromodulatory systems impact on learning across these different timescales is poorly understood. Objectives Here, we test the causal impact of a novel influence on perceptual learning, the androgen hormone testosterone, across distinct timescales. Methods In a double-blind, placebo- controlled, cross-over study with testosterone, subjects undertook a simple contrast detection task during training sessions on two separate days. Results On placebo, there was no learning either within training sessions or between days, except for a fast, rapidly saturating, improvement early on each testing day. However, testosterone caused “off-line” learning, with no learning seen within training sessions, but a marked performance improvement over the days between sessions. This testosterone-induced learning occurred in the absence of changes in subjective confidence or introspective accuracy. Conclusions Our findings show that testosterone influences perceptual learning on a timescale consistent with an influence on “off-line” consolidation processes.