T and brain changes?

[roo]

Just wondering for all of you who are taking T, have you experienced any differences in your skills? Like better at spatial reasoning, math, all those things that men are supposedly generally better at.

Or any changes in the way your mind works in general?

My spatial reasoning has always been really good but math was never my strong suit, and sports weren't either until after puberty when I stopped tripping over my own two feet.  I was always best at art and music.  Of course lots of guys excel there as well, and lots of girls in sports and math.  I'm just curious.

[Nero]

I guess it's too early to tell, but I've always sucked at spatial and maths ->-bleeped-<-. Still do, far as I know.
I have noticed changes, but it's hard to separate them from the other things going on like being far more comfortable and confident after surgery.
I have noticed one really odd thing - I have a couple favorite movies I practically know by heart and all of a sudden noticing things in them I never did before. But again that could be anything, being happier and paying better attention to things.

I'm a lot calmer and my thinking is clearer. Everything feels more balanced, even my libido. I don't get as angry. But this could also be alleviation of dysphoria.

[Mister]

I've always had a ridiculous aptitude for all things mathematical, spatial or logical.  Since I am no longer in school (thank the gods) and steadily decreasing my work schedule, I can't say if I've seen any improvement or not.

[Jamie-o]

I've been on T for a little under 4 months, and I've definitely noticed emotional changes.  Not so much mental changes.  I was always good at spatial concepts, and always physically awkward.  Both are still true.  My language skills don't seem to be affected either.  My social skills seem to be improving, but I think that's more because of the fact that I am so much calmer and happier than I was before.

There is only one mental change that I have noticed so far. It's hard to explain, but there have been subtle changes in the way I perceive sex, intimacy, and relationships.  It's as if there is a greater separation between the concepts than there once was.  I now understand why guys will have affairs and then say, "It was just sex."  It's not only to do with the greater libido, there's something of a different mental perception as well.

I'm also finding that women are becoming even more alien to me than they ever were, but that could just be because I'm focused on becoming "one of the guys" at the moment.

[sneakersjay]

Seems the same to me.

Main thing is that things that used to bug me don't.  Other than that, I've always been good at directions, spatial relationships, most logical math, etc.

Jay

[Myself]

Ever since anti-androgens my spatial abilities dropped like a rock in water

I am pretty sure it will affect yours with time.

[Miniar]

I just have to say this.
I know I say "can't wait" in every other thread where the T's effect on the mind and emotions are discussed, but I have to do it again.
I'm sitting at work, it's a slow day, and I have nothing to distract me really, and yet.. My mind is so all over the place it's driving me mad and I'm so tired of this.. mess.. in my head.
Whenever I see the better concentration and calmer mind mentioned, I find myself fearing it's psychosomantic or something so that it's something I can't really look forward to.
And I want that effect, so bad, you wouldn't believe it.
Badly enough that the estrogen filled body and mind reacts with wanting to cry. :/

[Nero]

I just have to say this.
I know I say "can't wait" in every other thread where the T's effect on the mind and emotions are discussed, but I have to do it again.
I'm sitting at work, it's a slow day, and I have nothing to distract me really, and yet.. My mind is so all over the place it's driving me mad and I'm so tired of this.. mess.. in my head.
Whenever I see the better concentration and calmer mind mentioned, I find myself fearing it's psychosomantic or something so that it's something I can't really look forward to.
And I want that effect, so bad, you wouldn't believe it.
Badly enough that the estrogen filled body and mind reacts with wanting to cry. :/

aww. well, whether or not it's psychosomatic (from the relief of dysphoria and comfort in what T is going to do physically), it's very real. I think a lot of it is relief from estrogen moreso than T itself. I hear a lot of the ladies here talk about the relief from T and how T felt like poison to them, and I think there may be something to be said for the effects of the wrong hormones on our minds and bodies. T calms us down, but drives them crazy and E calms them but makes us postal.
Whatever it is, everything suddenly seems so clear and peaceful, like the world was clouded and darkened under the weight of estrogen before.
You'll feel a lot better with the right fuel in your tank.

[roo]

Miniar I know what you're saying, I take stuff for ADHD and I wonder if I'll need it when I'm on T, or maybe I'll need it even more..

One thing that does worry me a little is that I have a certain artistic style where I can channel the sad pensive emotions into faces and stuff, people always say it seems like my drawings of people are alive, I wouldn't like to lose that.

I read that maybe the sex differences in the brain are set during infancy due to testosterone turning to estrogen...  Wikipedia says:

Early infancy androgen effects are the least understood. In the first weeks of life for male infants, testosterone levels rise. The levels remain in a pubertal range for a few months, but usually reach the barely detectable levels of childhood by 4–6 months of age.[3][4] The function of this rise in humans is unknown. It has been speculated that "brain masculinization" is occurring since no significant changes have been identified in other parts of the body.[5][citation needed] Surprisingly, the male brain is masculinized by testosterone being aromatized into estrogen, which crosses the blood-brain barrier and enters the male brain, whereas female fetuses have alpha-fetoprotein which binds up the estrogen so that female brains are not affected.[6]

[Nero]

Miniar I know what you're saying, I take stuff for ADHD and I wonder if I'll need it when I'm on T, or maybe I'll need it even more..

One thing that does worry me a little is that I have a certain artistic style where I can channel the sad pensive emotions into faces and stuff, people always say it seems like my drawings of people are alive, I wouldn't like to lose that.

I read that maybe the sex differences in the brain are set during infancy due to testosterone turning to estrogen...  Wikipedia says:

Well, it's harder to cry when moved by something. Estrogen does seem to make tears more accesible.

[DRAIN]

Well, it's harder to cry when moved by something. Estrogen does seem to make tears more accesible.

are you just as moved by things but find it harder to cry? or do you still feel that "moved" feeling deeply?

[Myself]

Here guys ^^ there are some spatial tests in this one
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sex/add_user.shtml

[Nero]

are you just as moved by things but find it harder to cry? or do you still feel that "moved" feeling deeply?

i think so. there've been times i was really feeling something and normally would've cried but it seems tears are just less forthcoming. not sure though. my mood has changed so much since the dysphoria lifting, it's hard to say.