Brain plasticity and Hormones Flashcards
Which circles are effected by prenatal tuning signals?
- Motor circuits
- Visual circuits
- Auditory circuits
Why are the early experience said to be crucial?
By the age of 3, 80% of the synaptic connections are already made
What is a “stroke”/ cerebrovascular accident and what types are there?
A. = Temporary loss of blood flow to the brain
B.
1. Ischemia (Clotting/ blockage)
2. Haemorrhage (ruptured artery)
How do males and females develop differently?
- Biological development
- Hormones released
- Hormone-environment interactions
What does the prenatal- and what does the postnatal period shape?
Prenatal period shapes sexual characteristics and morphology.
Postnatal period shapes sexual behaviour by certain hormone releases
What are the main components of sexual differentiation in the brain?
males:
Testosterone reaches the brain, is converted into dihydrotestosterone and estradiol. Estradiol masculinises the brain.
Females:
Alpha-fetoprotein binds to estradiol
What does the alpha-fetoprotein doe exactly?
Prevents estradiol from entering the brain.
Postnatally estradiol feminizes the brain though!
What does the presence or absence of testosterone correlate with?
Vocabulary size. Note: Amount of testosterone did not matter.
Twin testosterone transfer hypothesis
Female opposite sex twins more sensation seeking.
Which areas are involved in the control of sexual behavior?
- Medial pre optic area (MPA)
- Sexually dimorphic nucleus (SDN)
- Bed nucleus of the striata terminals (bNST)
What is die “medial pre-optic area” (MPA)?
Next to the hypothalamus plays an essential role in male sexual behavior
What is the sexual dimorphic nucleus (SDN)
Larger in males than in females.
The size is controlled by prenatal androgen pressure.
Volume is directly linked to animals sexual behavior
What is the “bed nucleus of the striatra terminals” (bNST)?
Larger in males than in females
Plays a role in sexual behavior
(Postnatal hormonal treatment most likely not possible –> transgenders)
