Lecture 6 - Sex Differences 2 Flashcards
Outline sex difference in behaviour and relevant neural substrates Arnold 2009 XX chromosome
XX -> ovaries -> feminisation -> estradiol and progesterone activation
Outline sex difference in behaviour and relevant neural substrates Arnold 2009 XY chromosome
XY -> testes, testosterone estradiol -> masculinisation defeminisation -> testosterone activation
Introduction sex differences
Overlap behaviours male and female
Identification sex differences acknowledges mean differences
Predict very little specific individuals
Sex differences other behaviours less marked those in core sexual identity and orientation
Where are the largest differences found in sex differences
Range differences within each sex larger differences between sexes
Largest behavioural sex differences seen in sexual orientation and core sexual identity
Differences not absolute
Determinants of sex differences in behaviour and cognition
Sex genes activity different sex hormones and environment/experience all factors differ between males and females factors interact effects on brain result sex differences
Partly mediated sexual dimorphisms in brain or CNS
Result from exposure identical (sexually homomorphic) brain substrates to female or male sex hormones/experiences
Outline mating behaviour
Sexually dimorphic Only act that way No fluidity Lordosis response Hormonal control and relevant neural sexual dimorphisms
What are the 3 factors required for heterosexual mating behaviour in mammals
Sufficient level attraction both sides
Sufficient level porceptivity - willingness to mate
Sufficient receptivity - ability mate
Not met no mating
What occurs in heterosexual mating behaviour mammals once 3 factors required
Appetitive phase behaviour - courting
Enter consummation phase compilation - enter mounting, intro mission, ejaculation
Lordosis response
How is heterosexual mating activation controlled by sex hormones
Testosterone necessary for males
Castrated can’t mate
Female mating isn’t as hormonal dependent
Females dependent attractivity proceptivity and receptivity under control hormonal cycle - menstrual
How important is the role of the reproductive and hormonal cycle in female mammals
Important determining sexual behaviour
Particularly in rodents
But gets weaker in primates and weak in humans
What are reproductive and hormonal cycles in female mammals controlled by
Hormone release by anterior pituitary gland
Folic stimulating hormone to ovary and growth of follicle triggering cycle
Only 1 point around ovulation animal can procreate
Cycle accompanied changes in hormones
When is pregnancy possible in reproductive and hormonal cycles in female mammals
Pregnancy only possible during certain time of cycle around ovulation
Oestrogen and progesterone levels are high
Around ovulation - behavioural Estella
Except for primate females who can mate any time
How are female behaviours linked repductive chcle
Linked reproductive cycle and controlled by hormonal fluctuations
Are primates still influenced by reproductive and hormonal cycles
Even primates attractiveness receptivity and proceptivity appear be modulated by hormonal cycle
What else May hormonal cycles influence
Influence behavioural cognitive and affective functions that not directly related to reproductive behaviour
Outline spinal mechanisms relevant to make copulating behaviour in rats - Breedlove and Arnold 1980
Spinal nucleus of bulbocavernosurs - SNB
Collection motor neurons in lower lumbar spinal cord; controls bulbocavernosus muscle at base of Lenin’s
Why are motorneurons and muscles necessary in spinal nucleus of bulbocavernosurs Breedlove and Arnold 1980
Motor neurons and muscles necessary for normal penile reflexes important successful copulation
What are the direct masculinising effects testosterone
Organisational effects testosterone way effects indirect
Testosterone receptors muscle cells then release trophies factored
Support neurons from spinal cord
Don’t have testosterone these neurons and fibres wither away
Interaction nature and nurture testosterone exerts some masculinising effects SNB and sexual behaviour via rat mother - Moore 1992
Rat Mother’s are stimulated lick their male pups more often than females because of testosterone in urine
Licking contributes normal male sexual behaviour and normal number SNB neurons
Sex circuits relevant to mating behaviour in rodents
Sex circuits constrain sex hormone receptors
Critical sexually dimorphic mating testosterone for male
Estradiol and progesterone for female
Outline sexually dimorphic nucleus of preoptic area SDN-POA relevant mating behaviours in rodents
SDN POA and posterodorsal media amygdala and medial proptic area
Parts bigger in males
Destroy it males don’t copulate
Activated by mating supported increase production in gene association between these areas influence testosterone in copulation mediation
Outline ventral nucleus of hypothalamus relevant mating behaviours in rodents
Important females
Medial amygdala both males and females
Dimorphism acts different males to females
Outline sexually dimorphic components relevant mating behaviours in rodents
SDN POA - masculinised testosterone during critical perinatal period
MePD volume and cell size depend testosterone action adulthood - activational effect