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quentin comments on Social status & testosterone - Less Wrong Discussion

28 Post author: gwern 20 October 2011 02:05PM

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Tags: motivation effect dopamine anxiety focus testosterone signalling

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Comment author: quentin 20 October 2011 08:41:53PM *  3 points [-]

So, ought we take supplemetary testosterone?

The benefits of weight training are typically significant and self-evident. Though anecdotal, most accounts I've heard (including my own) suggest that this is in large part due to increased testosterone levels. Why not supplement the natural process? If so, by how much?

Comment author: gwern 20 October 2011 09:43:26PM *  2 points [-]

So, ought we take supplemetary testosterone?

A question whose answer is far from obvious. See the homeostasis quote for one obstacle...

From Sullivan's article:

Testosterone's antidepressive power is only marginally understood. It doesn't act in the precise way other antidepressants do, and it probably helps alleviate gloominess primarily by propelling people into greater activity and restlessness, giving them less time to think and reflect. (This may be one reason women tend to suffer more from depression than men.) Like other drugs, T can also lose potency if overused. Men who inject excessive amounts may see their own production collapse and experience shrinkage of their testicles and liver damage.

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