Table 3.
Summaries on the effects of E2 treatment on cognitive performance of MtFs who are on HT. Some categories were from McGinty et al. [4]. Two studies [86, 92] were cross-sectional studies, and the rest were longitudinal studies. All cases were non-blinded studies. More details can be found in Supplementary Table 2.
| Cognitive Domain Tested (Test used) | Studies | Effects of E2 Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Attention and working memory | ||
| Digit span | [92] [88] |
0 ↑ after HT |
| Language | ||
| Controlled association test | [92] [88] |
0 0 |
| Paced verb generation test | [87] | 0 |
| Paced categorical decision test | [87] | 0 |
| Verbal fluency test (word production) | [89] [91] |
↓ 0 |
| Verbal fluency test (sentence production) |
[89] [91] [88] |
↑ 0 0 |
| Verbal reasoning test |
[89] [91] [90] |
0 0 0 |
| Vocabulary | [92] [88] |
0 0 |
| Verbal memory | ||
| Logical memory task (WMS-R) | [92] [88] |
0 ↑ after long-term HT |
| Verbal paired associates (WMS-R) | [92] [88] |
> MtFs group ↑ after off HT |
| Visual memory | ||
| Visual reproduction test | [88] | 0 |
| Visual paired associate learning | [88] | 0 ↑ after off HT for ≥8 weeks |
| Figural memory test | [88] | ↑ after long-term HT |
| Visual memory span | [88] | 0 |
| Object memory test | [88] | 0 |
| Location memory test | [88] | 0 |
| Visuomotor skill | ||
| Fine motor movement test | [91] | 0 |
| Targeted throwing | [90] | 0 |
| Visuospatial ability | ||
| Line orientation test | [90] | 0 |
| Judgment of line angle and position | [88] | 0 |
| Mental rotation (2-dimensional) | [91] [90] |
↓ at 3 months; but 0 post-SRS and 5 weeks off HT ↑ but other groups ↑ too* |
| Mental rotation (3-dimensional) |
[86] [87] [92] [91] [90] [88] |
= MtFs group 0 0 0 ↑ but non-MtF groups ↑ too* 0 |
| Mental rotation (3D, same-different) | [90] | ↑ but non-MtF groups ↑ too* |
| Hidden figure test | [91] | ↑ at 3 months; but 0 post-SRS and 5 weeks off HT |
| Perceptual speed test | [91] | 0 |
| Card rotation test | [89] | ↓ |
↑↓ Significantly improved or worse performance at follow-up visit. 0 no significant difference at follow-up. HT = hormone therapy. MtFs group = MtFs who do not receive HT. RCT = Randomized controlled trial. SRS = sex-reassignment surgery. WMS-R = Wechsler Memory Scale – Revised. * = the study included males and females without gender dysphoria.