Episode
The Science of Sexual Development
1:37:27
Published: Mon Apr 05 2021
Description
In this episode, I discuss how hormones such as testosterone and estrogen and their derivatives impact the early development of the brain and body and their maturation. I review published data on environmental factors shown to powerfully alter hormone pathways in animals and humans and the effects of cannabis, alcohol and cell phones on testes, sperm, ovaries and hormones. I describe the predictable relationship between genes, beard growth and balding patterns, and the importance of estrogen for brain development in people of all chromosomal sexes. Finally, I discuss how the hormones we are exposed to in the womb shape the relative length of our finger digits, the sounds our ears make (yes you read that correctly), and how those correlate with people's self-reports of their sexual preferences. As always, basic information and tools are discussed. For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Thesis: https://takethesis.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:00:30) AG1, LMNT, Thesis, Momentous (00:06:47) Announcement: Mood Meter App Works Again (00:08:00) Maximizing Learning from the Podcast (00:10:00) New Non-Sleep Deep Rest Protocol, Spanish Subtitles (00:11:35) Sexual Differentiation: Hormones, Neurons & Behavior (00:14:15) Hormones Basics (00:15:26) Sperm Meets Egg, Chromosomal Sex, Gonadal Sex, (00:17:50) Y Chromosome Inhibition of Feminization (00:19:00) Placenta Is An Endocrine (Hormone-Producing) Organ, Adrenal Testosterone (00:19:45) Hormonal Sex, Morphological Sex (00:21:04) Hormones Fast & Slow, Sex Steroids Can Turn On Genes (00:23:06) Masculinization, Feminization, Demasculinization, Defeminization (00:23:42) Primary Sexual Characteristics: DHT Drives Penis Development (00:27:03) Secondary Sexual Characteristics (00:27:43) Penis Sprouting: Guevedoces (00:31:25) Estrogen, NOT Testosterone, Masculinizes The Brain (00:33:15) Breast Development In Males: Aromatase; Puberty, & Steroids in Athletes (00:34:50) Estrogen Powerfully Controls Brain Development In All Individuals (00:35:19) Avoiding Hormonal Disruption In Children & Adults: Specific Oils, Creams, Etc. (00:39:00) Environmental Endocrine Disruptors, Sperm Count Decline, Vincloziline (00:44:20) Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome: Hormones Need Receptors, SARMS (00:48:41) Estrogen Establishes “Masculine” Brain Circuits, Testosterone (00:49:42) Cannabis, Alcohol: In Babies, Puberty & Adults (00:56:25) Cell Phone Technology: Effects On Hormones, Ovaries, & Testicles (01:02:33) Beards & Baldness Patterns Around the World, DHT, 5-alpha-reductase (01:06:39) Creatine & DHT/Hair Loss (01:08:20) Predicting Aging Rates By Pubertal Rates (01:10:04) Hyenas, Baseball, & Jumbo Clitorises: Androstenedione (01:14:26) Intersex Moles (01:15:40) Marijuana Plants, Pollens: Plant-To-Animal “Warfare” (01:20:08) Finger Length Ratios, Prenatal Hormone Exposure & Sexual Orientation (01:29:13) Brain Dimorphisms with Sexual Orientation (01:32:00) “Older Brother Effects”: Male Fetuses Might Change Mothers & Subsequent Brothers (01:35:06) The Path Forward & A Warning (01:35:55) Support & Your Questions Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac Disclaimer
Chapters
In this episode, the Huberman Lab Podcast discusses the essential role of Vitamin D3 for brain and body health, supported by numerous data.
00:00 - 01:37 (01:37)
Summary
In this episode, the Huberman Lab Podcast discusses the essential role of Vitamin D3 for brain and body health, supported by numerous data.
EpisodeThe Science of Sexual Development
PodcastHuberman Lab
Learn about hormone health optimization tips that are not specific to yoga community, tools that are suitable for everyone regardless of their goals, and supplements that are single-ingredient with scientific systemization.
01:37 - 10:58 (09:20)
Summary
Learn about hormone health optimization tips that are not specific to yoga community, tools that are suitable for everyone regardless of their goals, and supplements that are single-ingredient with scientific systemization.
EpisodeThe Science of Sexual Development
PodcastHuberman Lab
The process of determining sex involves chromosomal sex, gonadal sex, and hormonal sex, with hormones playing a crucial role in shaping the body and genitalia.
10:58 - 21:38 (10:40)
Summary
The process of determining sex involves chromosomal sex, gonadal sex, and hormonal sex, with hormones playing a crucial role in shaping the body and genitalia. Textbook findings show that hormones impact brain development and behavior, and interact with the brain to control hormonal development.
EpisodeThe Science of Sexual Development
PodcastHuberman Lab
Testosterone and estrogen have effects on both primary and secondary sexual characteristics, and can lead to the development of male or female traits.
21:38 - 28:21 (06:43)
Summary
Testosterone and estrogen have effects on both primary and secondary sexual characteristics, and can lead to the development of male or female traits. Their long-term effects are related to their impact on genes and gene expression.
EpisodeThe Science of Sexual Development
PodcastHuberman Lab
Contrary to popular belief, estrogen and not testosterone or dihydrotestosterone, that comes from testosterone, masculinizes the male brain.
28:21 - 39:13 (10:51)
Summary
Contrary to popular belief, estrogen and not testosterone or dihydrotestosterone, that comes from testosterone, masculinizes the male brain. The neurons in the brain that make aromatase convert testosterone into estrogen, thereby masculinizing the male brain.
EpisodeThe Science of Sexual Development
PodcastHuberman Lab
There is now solid data showing that herbicides can have negative effects on hormones, particularly estrogen and testosterone, leading to changes in sexual development and behaviour in both animals and humans.
39:13 - 49:46 (10:33)
Summary
There is now solid data showing that herbicides can have negative effects on hormones, particularly estrogen and testosterone, leading to changes in sexual development and behaviour in both animals and humans. This has implications for sports performance enhancements with testosterone derivatives.
EpisodeThe Science of Sexual Development
PodcastHuberman Lab
Studies have shown that THC and other substances in cannabis can promote significant increases in aromatase activity leading to the development of breasts in males.
49:46 - 53:10 (03:24)
Summary
Studies have shown that THC and other substances in cannabis can promote significant increases in aromatase activity leading to the development of breasts in males.
EpisodeThe Science of Sexual Development
PodcastHuberman Lab
A study published in Clinical Biochemistry found that proximity to cell phones and base stations that emit radio frequency radiation waves can have an effect on hormone profiles, such as increases in testosterone in rats and defects in testicular and ovarian development in humans.
53:10 - 1:02:29 (09:19)
Summary
A study published in Clinical Biochemistry found that proximity to cell phones and base stations that emit radio frequency radiation waves can have an effect on hormone profiles, such as increases in testosterone in rats and defects in testicular and ovarian development in humans.
EpisodeThe Science of Sexual Development
PodcastHuberman Lab
In this snippet, Ben Greenfield discusses hair loss drugs, specifically how they are aimed at preventing the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone.
1:02:31 - 1:09:35 (07:04)
Summary
In this snippet, Ben Greenfield discusses hair loss drugs, specifically how they are aimed at preventing the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. This is achieved by using 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, which are the basis of most anti-hair loss treatments.
EpisodeThe Science of Sexual Development
PodcastHuberman Lab
Plants have evolved to increase estrogen levels in animals that consume them, as a way to lower sperm counts to keep populations of animals clamped at certain levels so the plants can continue to flourish.
1:09:35 - 1:18:13 (08:38)
Summary
Plants have evolved to increase estrogen levels in animals that consume them, as a way to lower sperm counts to keep populations of animals clamped at certain levels so the plants can continue to flourish. Female hyenas have an enlarged genitalia due to high levels of androstenedione produced in their bodies.
EpisodeThe Science of Sexual Development
PodcastHuberman Lab
This episode discusses the effects of hormones on brain and peripheral systems, both short- and long-term, and in relation to the sexual orientation of individuals.
1:18:13 - 1:33:43 (15:29)
Summary
This episode discusses the effects of hormones on brain and peripheral systems, both short- and long-term, and in relation to the sexual orientation of individuals.
EpisodeThe Science of Sexual Development
PodcastHuberman Lab
The podcast discusses the connections between hormones and behavior and how diet and nutrition can affect them.
1:33:43 - 1:37:22 (03:38)
Summary
The podcast discusses the connections between hormones and behavior and how diet and nutrition can affect them. It also discusses the effects of hormones on various aspects of behavior such as motivation, drive and anxiety.