The prenatal sex steroid theory of autism after 25 years | Nature Human Behaviour
nature.com
After 25 years of evidence, the prenatal testosterone theory of autism is being stress-tested — and the results reveal just how messy biology-meets-behaviour science really gets.
Prenatal Sex Steroid TheoryExtreme Male Brain TheoryBiological DeterminismNeurodevelopmental Theory
Theory Briefing
- Higher prenatal testosterone levels were linked to slower social development in early studies, giving the theory its initial momentum.
- A quarter-century of follow-up research now complicates the picture, with mixed findings challenging a clean hormonal explanation for autism.
- The review highlights how a compelling biological theory can shape research funding and diagnosis for decades before the evidence fully catches up.