The Huberman Lab Podcast discusses neuroscience: how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health. We also discuss existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. His laboratory studies neural regeneration, neuroplasticity, and brain states such as stress, focus, fear, and optimal performance. For more than 20 years, Dr. Huberman has consistently published original research findings and review articles in top-level peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Science, Cell, Neuron, and Current Biology. He is a regular member of several National Institutes of Health review panels and a Fellow of the McKnight Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Dr. Huberman regularly consults for technology development companies, professional athletic organizations, and various units of U.S. and Canadian Special Operations.
Essentials: How Hormones Shape Sexual Development
In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, I explain the crucial role hormones play in shaping the sexual development of both the brain and body.
I discuss how biological masculinization and feminization depend on factors such as genetics, hormone ratios, and receptor availability. I also explore how hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and other steroid hormones influence sexual characteristics and brain development. Additionally, I examine the impact of environmental factors—such as herbicides like atrazine, cannabis, alcohol, and even cell phones—on hormone function and reproductive health.
Huberman Lab Essentials are short episodes (approximately 30 minutes) focused on key science and protocol takeaways from past Huberman Lab episodes. Essentials are released every Thursday, while full-length episodes continue to be released every Monday.
Read the full episode show notes, including referenced articles, resources, and people mentioned at hubermanlab.com.
This Huberman Lab Essentials episode is from the full-length episode, available here: https://go.hubermanlab.com/PQYuc9i
Thank you to our sponsors
AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman
Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman
Our Place: https://fromourplace.com/huberman
BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman
Timestamps
00:00:00 Huberman Lab Essentials; Hormones, Sexual Development
00:01:25 Chromosomal Sex, Gonadal Sex, Hormonal Sex, Morphology
00:06:08 Sponsor: Function
00:07:56 Steroid Hormones, Sexual Characteristics
00:10:59 Primary & Secondary Sexual Characteristics, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), Kisspeptin
00:15:12 Masculinization of Brain, Estrogen
00:16:29 Sponsors: Our Place, BetterHelp
00:19:15 Herbicides, Atrazine, Hormone Effects, Sperm Counts
00:25:04 Female Sexual Development, Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome
00:28:37 Sponsor: AG1
00:29:41 Cannabis & Aromatase Activity, Gynecomastia; Alcohol & Estrogen Activity
00:32:34 Cell Phones & Gonads
00:35:24 Beard & Hair Growth, DHT
00:38:42 Hyenas, Hormones, Androstenedione; Plants
00:43:44 Recap & Key Takeaways