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The question of hormonal influences on intellectual development: growth hormone

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

H. F. L. Meyer-Bahlburg ,
J. A. Feinman ,
M. H. MacGillivray  and
T. A. Aceto Jr
H. F. L. Meyer-Bahlburg*
Affiliation:
Children's Hospital of Buffalo and the Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, State University of New York, School of Medicine
J. A. Feinman
Affiliation:
Children's Hospital of Buffalo and the Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, State University of New York, School of Medicine
M. H. MacGillivray
Affiliation:
Children's Hospital of Buffalo and the Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, State University of New York, School of Medicine
T. A. Aceto Jr
Affiliation:
Children's Hospital of Buffalo and the Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, State University of New York, School of Medicine
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Heino F. L. Meyer-Bahlburg, Division of Child Psychiatry, Columbia University, Psychiatric Institute, 722 West 168th Street, New York, N.Y. 10032, USA.
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Synopsis

Contrary to expectations based on findings of enhanced brain development and learning in rats after prenatal growth-hormone administration, a sample of patients with growthhormone deficiency of early onset did not show impairment of mental abilities when tested with standard intelligence tests. We conclude from our findings, as well as from other clinical reports, that growth-hormone deficiency of early onset does probably not interfere with normal human brain development.

Type
Preliminary Communication
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , February 1979 , pp. 187 - 189
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

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