Work

Neural markers of social dominance: A female-focused perspective

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Social interactions are fundamental to human life, with social dominance being a key factor in these interactions. Previous studies have shown that dominant males are faster in decision-making tasks compared to non-dominant ones, even in the absence of a social context such as competition. Additionally, dominant males exhibit a significantly higher N2/P2 EEG component, which is an inherent trait rather than a state marker of dominance. While it has been suggested that social hierarchies are more pronounced among males, recent findings challenge this notion. Here, we show that the N2/P2 component is also higher in dominant than in less dominant females, with similar amplitude and latency as their male counterparts. Our results suggest that women exhibit dominance-related neurobiological traits similar to men. Our findings underscore the importance of further investigating the socio-cultural and environmental factors that contribute to gender disparities in social hierarchies.

Source: iScience

DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.113109

Authors: Wei-Hsiang Lin, Janir Ramos da Cruz, Carmen Sandi, Michael H. Herzog

Institutions: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering

Language: English

Topic: Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Gender equality

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,240