ABSTRACT
The steroid hormones 17ß-estradiol, progesterone and testosterone are potent neuromodulators that have the potential to drive individual differences in reward processing and reinforcement learning. Here, we will present evidence from state-of-the-art human behavioral and functional neuroimaging research that will provide an overview of recent developments in the field. The chapter will focus on endogenous hormone effects and their relation to different aspects of reward processing. We will also address potential reasons for conflicting findings, address connections between basic and neuropsychiatric research and develop a model on how intra-individual hormonal fluctuations across the natural menstrual cycle might shape reinforcement learning capacity and dopamine-related processes.
