Hormones and Sex Continued

Question 1

the … produce androgens, like testosterone

Answer 1

testes

Question 2

the … produce progestins (such as progesterone) and estrogen (such as estradiol)

Answer 2

ovaries

Question 3

ovarian hormones are produced in cycles; for humans, thats about 4 weeks; in rats it’s 4 days. Ovarian hormones coordinate…

Answer 3

the release of the egg (ovulation) with sexual behavior

Question 4

glands make steroid hormones by using enzymes to modify cholesterol into different steroids

For example, ovaries first convert cholesterol into progestins, and then they convert those progestins into androgens, which are then converted to estrogens

NO HORMONE IS STRICTLY MALE OR FEMALE!

Question 5

• gamete production and release
• bringing the gametes together ( so, sexual behavior leading to copulation)
• hormones are required for both of these to occur

Answer 5

what does it take for reproduction to be successful?

Question 6

sexual attraction may be synchronized with physiological readiness (i.e., hormones, odors or pheromones)

female behavior that establishes, maintains or promotes sexual interaction is considered … ; examples include approaching the male, engaging in hopping and darting and vocalizing

Male proceptive behavior: staying near the female, sniffing, vocalizing and nest-building

Answer 6

proceptive

Question 7

…brings the sperm and egg together. After a … follows in which the male is unable to engage in sexual activity for a short period of time

Answer 7

Copulation and refractory phase

Question 8

the … refers to the faster resumption of mating behavior with a different partner

Answer 8

Coolidge Effect

Question 9

… varies across species, may include parental behaviors to nurture offspring

Answer 9

postcopulatory behavior

Question 10

• to increase the chance that mating leads to pregnancy
• to be sure resources aren’t wasted: eggs are limited and expensive
• to reduce risk of predation and disease

Answer 10

females are only receptive around the time of ovulation, why?

Question 11

the hormones are having an …. on behavior: acting on receptors and neural circuits to increase the likelihood the behavior will occur

Answer 11

activational effect

Question 12

hormones do no cause behaviors to occur, they just … that the behavior will occur

Answer 12

change the likelihood

• for example, hormones act in the brain of the female to increase interest in the male, and act in the periphery to increase sensitivity of receptive fields

Question 13

in female rates, steroid action on the … is crucial to the lordosis response

Answer 13

ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)

Question 14

in male rats the … of the hypothalamus coordinates male copulatory behavior; lesioning this area inhibits sexual behavior

Answer 14

medial pre optic area (mPOA)

Question 15

the … (responsible for detecting pheromones) are the olfactory bulb (responsible for detecting smell) are both integral for male sex behavior, and activate arousal

Answer 15

vomeronasal organ