Essentials: How Hormones Shape Sexual Development
Feb 13, 2025•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Episode description
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
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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
Disclaimer & Disclosures
