Home-Field Advantage Has Hormonal Origins

June 20, 2006 — -- Win or lose, it's not necessarily how you play the game.

It may also be how your body responds chemically to a forthcoming game, research indicates.

Previous research has shown that the chemical credited with machismo -- testosterone -- actually increases in male athletes before a competition.

Two new studies also show how the hormone may especially peak before home games, and that female athletes likely experience the same hormone flux.

The first study, of male ice hockey players, found higher testosterone levels in athletes competing at their home rink, compared to playing an away game. The other, a Portuguese study of female soccer players, found that they produced higher than normal levels of testosterone in anticipation of a game, similar to male athletes.

Both studies were presented this week at the International Congress of Neuroendocrinology Meeting in Pittsburgh.

Testosterone is a steroid hormone that is normally associated with male puberty -- causing boys to become men. Throughout the life span, however, testosterone is related to muscle growth, assertive or competitive behavior, and risk-taking -- factors that can help athletes of either gender perform better, said Canadian researcher Justin Carré at Brock University in Ontario.

"It's important in competitive sports," he said.

The "home-field advantage" may have more to do with biology than a familiar arena with roaring fans.

Canadian researchers tracked testosterone levels in saliva from four ice hockey teams. They found higher pregame testosterone levels for home games and lower levels in away games.

The "home-field advantage" may be a remnant of animal instincts to protect the home turf. When an intruder challenges the animal, it gets ready to fight with high testosterone levels.

"Humans defend their home territory," Carré said. "Much like rodents and lower primates."

Athletic games are similar to animal competitions, where animals fight in order to establish who is higher in the pecking order.