Sexually polymorphic cognition (SPC) results from the interaction between biological (birth-assigned sex (BAS), sex hormones) and socio-cultural (gender identity, gender roles, sexual orientation) factors. The literature remains quite mixed regarding the magnitude of the effects of these variables. This project used a battery of classic cognitive tests designed to assess the influence of sex hormones on cognitive performance. At the same time, we aimed to assess the inter-related and respective effects that BAS, sex hormones, and gender-related factors have on SPC. We recruited 222 adults who completed eight cognitive tasks that assessed a variety of cognitive domains during a 150-min session. Subgroups were separated based on gender identity and sexual orientation and recruited as follows: cisgender heterosexual men (n = 46), cisgender non-heterosexual men (n = 36), cisgender heterosexual women (n = 36), cisgender non-heterosexual women (n = 38), gender diverse (n = 66). Saliva samples were collected before, during, and after the test to assess testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone. Psychosocial variables were derived from self-report questionnaires. Cognitive performance reflects sex and gender differences that are partially consistent with the literature. Interestingly, biological factors seem to better explain differences in male-typed cognitive tasks (i.e., spatial), while psychosocial factors seem to better explain differences in female-typed cognitive tasks (i.e., verbal). Our results establish a better comprehension of SPC over and above the effects of BAS as a binary variable. We highlight the importance of treating sex as a biological factor and gender as a socio-cultural factor together since they collectively influence SPC. Many studies show sex differences in cognitive abilities. In general, women outperform men in verbal tasks and fine motor skills, while men outperform women in spatial orientation and mental rotation tasks. These differences underlie research on sexually polymorphic cognition, a concept influenced by sex hormones (estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone) as well as birth-assigned sex. In addition to these biological factors, socio-cultural gender factors such as gender identity (the gender we feel and embody), gender roles (masculine and feminine expressions based on stereotypes), as well as sexual orientation are all known to influence cognition as well. We provide a broader understanding by accounting for both sex and gender factors. Our team recruited 222 adults separated into 5 sub-groups based on birth-assigned sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Each participant completed eight sexually polymorphic cognitive tasks. In this 150-min experimental protocol, saliva samples were collected before, during, and after the test to assess testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone. Psychosocial variables were derived from self-report questionnaires. Results showed that spatial cognition was better explained by biological sex factors, while verbal cognition was better explained by socio-cultural gender factors. Taken together, our findings demonstrate the importance of considering sex-based and gender-based factors collectively and, respectively, when studying sex differences in cognition.

中文翻译：

---

性多态性认知的性别和性别相关性

性别多态认知（SPC）是生物因素（出生性别（BAS）、性激素）和社会文化因素（性别认同、性别角色、性取向）相互作用的结果。关于这些变量的影响程度，文献仍然相当复杂。该项目使用了一系列经典认知测试，旨在评估性激素对认知表现的影响。同时，我们旨在评估 BAS、性激素和性别相关因素对 SPC 的相互关联和各自影响。我们招募了 222 名成年人，他们在 150 分钟的会议中完成了八项认知任务，评估了各种认知领域。根据性别认同和性取向划分亚组，并招募如下：顺性别异性恋男性（n = 46），顺性别非异性恋男性（n = 36），顺性别异性恋女性（n = 36），顺性别非异性恋女性（n = 36）。 n = 38)，性别多样化 (n = 66)。在测试之前、期间和之后收集唾液样本以评估睾酮、雌二醇、孕酮、皮质醇和脱氢表雄酮。心理社会变量来自自我报告问卷。认知表现反映了性别差异，这与文献部分一致。有趣的是，生物学因素似乎更好地解释了男性型认知任务（即空间）的差异，而心理社会因素似乎更好地解释了女性型认知任务（即语言）的差异。我们的结果建立了对 SPC 的更好理解，超越了 BAS 作为二元变量的影响。我们强调将性视为生物因素和将性别视为社会文化因素的重要性，因为它们共同影响 SPC。许多研究表明认知能力存在性别差异。一般来说，女性在语言任务和精细运动技能方面优于男性，而男性在空间定向和心理旋转任务方面优于女性。这些差异是性别多态性认知研究的基础，这一概念受到性激素（雌二醇、黄体酮和睾酮）以及出生性别的影响。除了这些生物因素外，社会文化性别因素，如性别认同（我们感受到和体现的性别）、性别角色（基于刻板印象的男性和女性表达）以及性取向也都已知会影响认知。 。我们通过考虑性别因素来提供更广泛的理解。我们的团队招募了 222 名成年人，根据出生性别、性别认同和性取向分为 5 个小组。每个参与者完成八项性别多态性认知任务。在这个 150 分钟的实验方案中，在测试之前、期间和之后收集唾液样本，以评估睾酮、雌二醇、孕酮、皮质醇和脱氢表雄酮。心理社会变量来自自我报告问卷。结果表明，空间认知可以更好地用生物性别因素来解释，而言语认知可以更好地用社会文化性别因素来解释。总而言之，我们的研究结果表明，在研究认知中的性别差异时，集体考虑基于性别和基于性别的因素的重要性。