Exam 2 Flashcards
Endocrine system
the body’s slow chemical communication system;
Glands that secrete hormones into the blood stream
Initial love
dopamine “erotic high”
PEA
honeymoon period
Dopamine
involved in addictive behavior and OCD;
natural endorphine that causes the body to relax and kills pain
PEA
high quantity when you first meet and gradually decreases;
body becomes tolerant after long exposure
Oxytocin
deep bond through touch
released during orgasm (greater for women)
“cuddle hormone”
Sertotonin
well-being, partnership, and trust
oxytocin and serotonin increase at 3-4 yr mark
Sex and basic needs similarities
sex is like hunger and thirst;
arousal and satiation, hormonal control, controlled by specific brain areas
Sex and basic needs differences
not a homeostatic tissue need (not required for survival)
reproduction is a species need
Sexual Response Cycle
Excitement phase- Plateau phase- Orgasm- Resolution phase- Refractory phase (males)
Testosterone
steroid hormone from androgen group;
secreted by the testicles and by the adrenal glands;
male sex hormone
Estrogen
produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands;
development of female body, increases uterine growth, lubes vagina, thickens vaginal wall
Progesterone
produced in ovaries during menstration;
also synthesized by the placenta, downregulates estrogen receptors, reduces anxiety, slows digestion, promotes appetite and fat storage, matures breast tissue
Estradiol
produced by ovaries, adrenal gland, and placenta
growth hormone for reproductive organs
required for reproductive and sexual function
BSTc or Central bed nucleus of the stria terminals
smaller in women and male-to-female transsexuals
SCN
larger in gay men than in heterosexual men and secretes more Vasopressin
Third interstitial nucleus of the anterior hypothalamus
half the size in gay men and heterosexual women;
M to F=# close to female
F to M=# close to male
Medial amygdala
BOTH SEXES
Sexual behavior, aggression, and emotions
Paraventricular nucleus
MALES
Erectile dysfunction, BP, heart rate, metabolic balance
Ventromedial hypothalamus
FEMALES
active during sex
MPOA
BOTH SEXES
Sexual motivation
Performance
SDN
MALES
5x larger in males
Dopamine and sexual behavior
drugs that increase dopamine increase sexual activity and orgasmic activity
Serotonin and sexual behavior
ejaculation is accompanied by increase in serotonin in lateral hypothalamus;
drugs that increase serotonin impair sexual ability and orgasm
Oxytocin and sexual behavior
(females)
facilitates bonding
increases during orgasm; breast feeding; birth
Vasopressin and sexual behavior
(males)
Bonding; mate protection
Sex
biological characteristics that divide male and female
Gender
behavioral characteristics associated with being male and female
Gender role
societal set of behaviors society appropriate for a particular sex
Gender identity
subjective feeling of being male or female
Organizing effects
Permanent
prenatally and shortly after birth
Ex- increase in stature
Activating effects
Reversible
at any point in life
Ex- breast developmenet
Role of amygdala
involved in sexual behavior, emotion, and aggression
Erection, ovulation, pleasure, orgasm
VTA
reward center
dopamine leads to reward/pleasure
Hypothalamus
regulation of sex hormones