My guest is Dr. Nirao Shah, MD, PhD, a professor of psychiatry, behavioral sciences and neurobiology at Stanford University School of Medicine. We discuss how the brains of males and females differ and how those differences arise from different genes and hormones during fetal development, in childhood and adulthood. We discuss what drives male- versus female-specific behaviors and how hormonal fluctuations across the lifespan, including puberty, the menstrual cycle, menopause and aging – affect behavior, cognition and health. Additionally, we discuss how biology relates to gender identity and the impact of hormone therapies on brain circuits that regulate mating, parenting and social bonding. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.Thank you to our sponsorsAG1: https://drinkag1.com/hubermanMaui Nui: https://mauinuivenison.com/hubermanEight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/hubermanLMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanFunction: https://functionhealth.com/hubermanTimestamps00:00:00 Nirao Shah00:02:11 Mice, Humans & Brain, Biological Conservation00:05:25 Hormones, Nature vs Nurture00:07:13 Biological Sex Differences, Chromosomes & SRY Gene, Hormones 00:16:01 Sponsors: Maui Nui & Eight Sleep00:19:09 Androgen Mutations, Feminization & Masculinization 00:22:04 SRY Gene; Animals & Sexual Trans-Differentiation00:27:49 Hormones & Biological Brain Differentiation 00:31:22 Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Androstenedione; Stress & Pregnancy00:35:56 Genes, Brain Differentiation & Sexual Identity; Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia00:43:37 Testosterone, Estrogen & Brain Circuits00:47:27 Sponsors: AG1 & LMNT00:50:36 Intersex Individuals, Castration00:52:23 Female Sexual Behavior, Brain, Testosterone & Pheromones00:57:58 Identify as Heterosexual or Homosexual, Difference in Hormone Levels?01:00:42 Gender, Sexual Orientation & Hormones; Hormone Replacement Therapy01:10:21 Aromatization; Steroid Hormones & Gene Expression01:15:00 Kids & Changing Gender Identity01:19:05 Sexual Behavior, Refractory Period & Male Brain, Tacr1 Cells01:21:31 Sponsor: Function01:23:19 Hypothalamus, Dopamine, Prolactin, Cabergoline, Libido, Dopamine01:27:05 Brain Circuits, Aggression & Sexual Behavior01:32:40 Refractory Period; Age, Testosterone & Libido01:36:07 Tacr1 Cells in Females, Periaqueductal Gray & Innate Behaviors01:40:00 Parenting Behaviors & Brain Circuits; Pet Dogs01:43:12 Oxytocin, Pair Bonding, Vasopressin; Biological Redundancy 01:47:22 Libido, Melanocortin, Tacr1 Neurons; GLP-1 Agonists, Clinical Trials; Kisspeptin01:56:43 Female Brain Changes, Menstrual Cycle, Pregnancy, Menopause; Estrogen; Men & Hormone Fluctuation?02:04:10 Life Experience Male vs Female, Sex Recognition, Behaviors & Context02:16:05 Pain Management; Endocrine Disrupters, Gender Identity02:21:03 Future Projects02:24:29 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network NewsletterDisclaimer & DisclosuresLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
