A neuroimaging study from York University adds compelling evidence that testosterone supports brain function well beyond reproductive health — specifically in the neural networks that integrate thought and movement. Among 36 healthy working-age adults (18 female), researchers measured salivary hormone levels and used MRI imaging alongside touchscreen-based visuomotor tasks, including a cognitively demanding “cognitive-motor integration” (CMI) task requiring the brain to override automatic responses and apply rules to guide precise movement. After controlling for age, testosterone was a significant predictor of CMI performance across both sexes — independent of biological sex — with higher levels associated with faster movement times and more precise motor paths.

Higher testosterone also correlated with greater grey matter thickness and volume in visuomotor brain regions, including the posterior cingulate cortex, suggesting structural neurological differences tied to hormone status rather than transient performance effects. For BHRT practitioners, these findings reinforce the clinical case for testosterone optimization in both male and female patients and position declining testosterone as a contributor to the real-world cognitive-motor difficulties patients describe long before traditional deficiency thresholds are reached.

Citation: Smeha N, Gorbet DJ, Edgell H, Macpherson AK, Sergio LE. Beyond sex: the effects of testosterone on visuomotor performance in men and women. Front Hum Neurosci. 2026;19:1718846. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2025.1718846. PMID: 41601607.