A team from Emory University investigated whether testosterone influences how males form social bonds and participate in friendships. The study, published in a prestigious biology journal, aimed to uncover the hormonal factors that guide affiliative behavior and how these ties help individuals navigate group life. Citation: Emory researchers, 2024.
The experiment used Mongolian gerbils because these animals naturally form strong pair bonds and work together to raise their offspring. At the start of the research, male gerbils were paired with females, and these relationships became stable over time. As pregnancies unfolded, the males increased their attention to their mates, showing a clear shift toward nurturing behavior alongside social engagement. This setup provides a window into how hormones may reinforce care and companionship within a pair. Citation: Emory researchers, 2024.
To determine if testosterone directly affected these behaviors, the scientists administered hormone injections to the male subjects. The common expectation was that a surge in a hormone often linked to competition could reduce affectionate or cooperative actions. In this context, however, testosterone injections did not suppress social closeness. Instead, they tended to boost social interaction and caregiving, at least during the early phases of the treatments. This finding points to a nuanced role for testosterone, where context matters as much as the chemical itself. Citation: Emory researchers, 2024.
In a later phase, researchers altered the social environment by removing the female partner and introducing a stranger male. Typically, a resident male might chase away or ignore an intruder. Yet gerbils treated with testosterone showed greater friendliness and less aggression toward the newcomer. This pattern suggests that testosterone can modulate social responses in a context-dependent way. A subsequent dose again shifted behavior toward higher assertiveness, underscoring how the hormone’s effects depend on environmental cues and the social stakes involved. Citation: Emory researchers, 2024.
Overall, the study argues that testosterone supports context-sensitive behavior, shaping how individuals respond to different social situations. The hormone appears to influence not just defense or aggression but also affection and bonding, with outcomes tied to the surrounding circumstances. While the results come from a rodent model, they offer a framework for exploring similar mechanisms in other species. This line of work opens paths for future research that could illuminate human social dynamics and hormonal regulation across life stages. Citation: Emory researchers, 2024.