My guest is Dr. Nirao Shah, MD, PhD, a professor of psychiatry, behavioral sciences and neurobiology at Stanford University School of Medicine. We discuss how the brains of males and females differ and how those differences arise from different genes and hormones during fetal development, in childhood and adulthood. We discuss what drives male- versus female-specific behaviors and how hormonal fluctuations across the lifespan, including puberty, the menstrual cycle, menopause and aging – affect behavior, cognition and health. Additionally, we discuss how biology relates to gender identity and the impact of hormone therapies on brain circuits that regulate mating, parenting and social bonding. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.Thank you to our sponsorsAG1: https://drinkag1.com/hubermanMaui Nui: https://mauinuivenison.com/hubermanEight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/hubermanLMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanFunction: https://functionhealth.com/hubermanTimestampsDisclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices