How Do Male Sex Hormones Influence Self-Control in Heavy Drinkers?
What role do male sex hormones play in our ability to control our behaviour? Researchers from the Collaborative Research Centre TRR 265 at the Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH) in Mannheim investigated this question. Their findings were published in October 2026 in the journal Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience.
The study involved 50 men who regularly consumed large amounts of alcohol. The researchers investigated whether altering hormone levels through medication could influence the ability to stop an ongoing action – an important aspect of self-control. Participants received either finasteride, a medication that reduces levels of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), or a placebo. Their brain activity was measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while they performed a task assessing impulse control.
The findings revealed associations between male sex hormones and specific patterns of brain activity. Lower DHT levels and higher testosterone levels were associated with increased activation in different brain regions during the task. However, the medication itself did not lead to measurable improvements in self-control or significant changes in brain activity.
The study provides preliminary evidence that male sex hormones may be involved in the brain processes underlying behavioural control. Further research is needed to determine whether targeting these hormones could eventually contribute to new treatment approaches for problematic alcohol consumption.
Original publication: Kundlacz et al. (2026). Pharmacologically altered androgens, brain activation and response inhibition in a stop-signal task in male heavy drinkers. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 20, 1907416.
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