Exam 2 Flashcards

Question

How is Medial preoptic area (MPOA) related to sexual activity and response?

Answer 1

Involves male and female sexual behavior. * Stimulation in rats (male or female) results in sexual behavior * Opiates (oxycodone, heroin) reduce MPOA, impair sexual behavior

Answer 2

Is important for sexual interest and motivation in both males and females. * Ablation increases female reluctance and reduces male advances

Answer 3

It contributes to sexual behavior in animals of both sexes. * Active during copulation; stimulation causes DA release in MPOA * Responds to sexually explicit stimuli (e.g., presence of potential sexual partner)

Answer 4

Is responsible for male sexual performance, erection.

Answer 5

Located in the preoptic area. Is three to four times larger in male rats than in females, and a male's level of sexula activity is related to the size of the SDN. * Integrates sensory & hormonal information; coordinates behavioral/physiological responses * Larger size of SDN in males correlated with amount of sexual activity * Size of area dependent on testosterone protection of region during synaptic pruning * Ablation of SDN reduces male sexual activit

Answer 6

It creates a reward effect in the nucleus accumbens and has a significant roles in sexual motivation and performance. Stimulation of the medial amygdala releases dopamine in the MPOA, enabling the individual to respond to sexually exciting stimuli. * Dopamine active in ventral tegmental area in males during ejaculation and the nucleus accumbens in females during orgasm * Drugs that increase dopamine levels, such as stimulants and those used in treating Parkinson’s disease, increase sexual activity

Answer 7

Is primarily inhibitory to sexual behaviors regardless of sex. * Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increase serotonin at synapses. -- Injecting an SSRI into the MPOA decreases sexual motivation in animals -- Injection into the lateral hypothalamus lengthens the time between copulations and their ability to ejaculate * Serotonin released in the lateral hypothalamus during ejaculation contributes to the refractory period, -- May also cause a drop in dopamine levels which diminishes arousal * SSRIs can interfere with their sexual performance -- Antianxiety drug buspirone, by contrast, decreases the release of serotonin and facilitates orgasms.

Answer 8

It contributes to bonding and causes the smooth muscle contractions involved in male and female orgasm as well as milk ejection during breastfeeding. * Oxytocin increases as males and females masturbate to orgasm * Oxytocin release correlates with the intensity of pleasure

Answer 9

At the embryonic stage where a seemingly undifferentiated gonad, develops into either a testis (male) or an ovary (female) depending on the presence of the sex-determining genes on the sex chromosomes, ultimately leading to the development of distinct male and female reproductive organs and secondary sexual characteristics * Male  Internal genitalia: Wolffian ducts develop into structures such as epididymis, vas deferens, and seminal vesicles  External genitalia: Testosterone converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), promotes penis and scrotum formation * Female  Internal genitalia: Müllerian ducts develop into fallopian tubes, uterus, and upper part of vagina  External genitalia: Absence of high androgen levels = clitoris, labia minora, and labia majora formation

Answer 10

1. Androgen 2. Estrogen 3. Progesterone

Answer 11

A class of horomones responsible for male characteristics and functions * testosterone * boys excel in visual spatial abilities compared to girls * transgender men taking testosterone lose verbal ability but improve in spatial performance

Answer 12

A class of horomones responsible for female characteristics and functions * girls excel in verbal abilities compared to boys * males who take estrogens bc they identify as females increase their scores on verbal fluency tasks, but they lose spatial performance

Answer 13

Hormone produced in males to create testosterone and females to control sexual reproduction

Answer 14

The *third interstitial nucleus of the anterior hypothalamus (INAH3)* is larger in men than in women and is thought to be the human counterpart of the SDN. The *central subdivision of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTc)* is also larger in males than in females; it is closely connected to the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. Both have been reported to be cis female sized in MtF transgender individuals. Size in FtM transsexuals was closer to cis-male size.

Answer 15

A form of 46,XY intersex, is caused by a genetic absence of androgen receptors, which results in insensitivity to androgen. Mullerian inhibiting hormone suppresses development of most female internal organs. Minimal sensitivity to androgens can lead to external genitals that look typically female or typically male or have characteristics of both.

Answer 16

Klinefelter syndrome (XXY): A male with an extra X chromosome, often causing reduced testosterone levels, smaller testes, and learning difficulties.

Answer 17

Estimates of homosexuality vary, as do definitions, sampling methods, and individuals’ willingness to accurately report homosexual behavior. Social influence hypothesis: people are more likely to do whatever they see is the “norm”. (In-class we talked about individuals who are bisexual are more likely date individuals of thew opposite sex as opposed to individuals of the same-sex) * Option A: Homosexuality becomes a norm → increased homosexuality (mind & behavior) * Option B: Homosexuality becomes a norm → increased willingness to exhibit behavior (although mental state was always present—with or without norm)

Answer 18

Emotional experience results from the physiological arousal that precedes it, and different emotions are the result of different patterns of arousal. * We feel emotions because we perceive our body’s physiological responses to an event * “We don’t tremble because we are afraid. We are afraid because we tremble.” –William James & Carl Lange, 1884 * Emphasizes role of PNS in generating emotional experience

Answer 19

Neurons that fire both when we enage in a specific act and while observing the same act in others. We mimic other people's gestures, body posture, tone of voice, and facial expressions. This may contribute to empathy and emotional understanding by mirroring observed emotions. It also helps with recognition and interpretation of facial expressions and other nonverbal cues.

Answer 20

The Limbic system 1. **Amygdala:** assesses the emotional significance of stimuli; Rapidly evaluates sensory information for its significance to survival or well-being and triggers bodily responses 2. **Prefrontal cortex:** Crucial for conscious emotional experience and deliberate action 3. **Anterior cingulate cortex:** brain structure best known for roles in attention, decision-making, and impulse control. (conscious experience of emotion)

Answer 21

Forceful or assertive behavior that is intended to harm or control another.

Answer 22

* **Predatory aggression:** occurs when an animal attacks and kills prey or a human makes a premeditated, unprovoked attack on another. Cold and emotionless. * **Affective aggression:** aggression characterized by its impulsiveness and emotional arousal * **Proactive or instrumental aggression:** aggression that is unprovoked and emotionless and is intended to bring about gain for the aggressor --->Often (but not exclusively) seen in people diagnosed with psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder * **Reactive or impulsive aggression:** aggression that occurs in response to a threat, real or imagined, characterized by heightened emotionality

Answer 23

Aggresion involves interplay of a network of structures. * **Amygdala:** detects and responds to threats * Regions of **prefrontal cortex:** moderates aggression with regard to amygdala * **Hypothalamus:** primary instigator of aggressive behavior * **Insula** (when emotion is involved): recognizing and experiencing emotion --->Dysfunction leads to heightened emotional responses and impulsivity * **Anterior cingulate** (when emotion is involved): emotion regulation, conflict monitoring. ---> Dysfunction leads to poor regulation, emotional dysregulation, aggression

Answer 24

Several hormones & neurotransmitters are related to aggression * **Testosterone:** plays a role in NH animals and both male and female human aggression ---> Significant global effects in the brain and on behavior --->Reduces functional connectivity between orbitofrontal cortex and the amygdala, leading to poor emotion regulation * **Serotonin:** conventionally inhibitory, suppressing motivated behaviors ---> Low serotonin linked to impulsive aggression * **Cortisol:** is also inhibitory to aggression. --->Male prisoners with low cortisol had high levels of calculating and unemotional aggression

Answer 25

Best known for its role in attention, decision making, and impulse control, also plays a major role in emotion. It is seen to be activated with the anterior insular cortex (AIC) stimultaneously during the experience of emotional feelings. The AIC is considered to be the/a location of emotional awareness; the ACC is believed to use input from the AIC to generate action.

Answer 26

Can include brain structure abnormalities, neurotransmitter imbalances, and decreased physiological responses to stressful situations. In mice, research suggest that IFN-y co-evolved with social behavior in response to the increasing need for protection against communicable diseases.