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Neuroscience > Lecture 6 - Sex Differences 2 > Flashcards

Lecture 6 - Sex Differences 2 Flashcards

1
Q

Outline sex difference in behaviour and relevant neural substrates Arnold 2009 XX chromosome

A

XX -> ovaries -> feminisation -> estradiol and progesterone activation

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2
Q

Outline sex difference in behaviour and relevant neural substrates Arnold 2009 XY chromosome

A

XY -> testes, testosterone estradiol -> masculinisation defeminisation -> testosterone activation

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3
Q

Introduction sex differences

A

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

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4
Q

Where are the largest differences found in sex differences

A

Range differences within each sex larger differences between sexes
Largest behavioural sex differences seen in sexual orientation and core sexual identity
Differences not absolute

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5
Q

Determinants of sex differences in behaviour and cognition

A

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

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6
Q

Outline mating behaviour

A 
Sexually dimorphic 
Only act that way 
No fluidity 
Lordosis response 
Hormonal control and relevant neural sexual dimorphisms
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7
Q

What are the 3 factors required for heterosexual mating behaviour in mammals

A

Sufficient level attraction both sides

Sufficient level porceptivity - willingness to mate

Sufficient receptivity - ability mate

Not met no mating

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8
Q

What occurs in heterosexual mating behaviour mammals once 3 factors required

A

Appetitive phase behaviour - courting
Enter consummation phase compilation - enter mounting, intro mission, ejaculation
Lordosis response

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9
Q

How is heterosexual mating activation controlled by sex hormones

A

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

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10
Q

How important is the role of the reproductive and hormonal cycle in female mammals

A

Important determining sexual behaviour
Particularly in rodents
But gets weaker in primates and weak in humans

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11
Q

What are reproductive and hormonal cycles in female mammals controlled by

A

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

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12
Q

When is pregnancy possible in reproductive and hormonal cycles in female mammals

A

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

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13
Q

How are female behaviours linked repductive chcle

A

Linked reproductive cycle and controlled by hormonal fluctuations

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14
Q

Are primates still influenced by reproductive and hormonal cycles

A

Even primates attractiveness receptivity and proceptivity appear be modulated by hormonal cycle

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15
Q

What else May hormonal cycles influence

A

Influence behavioural cognitive and affective functions that not directly related to reproductive behaviour

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16
Q

Outline spinal mechanisms relevant to make copulating behaviour in rats - Breedlove and Arnold 1980

A

Spinal nucleus of bulbocavernosurs - SNB

Collection motor neurons in lower lumbar spinal cord; controls bulbocavernosus muscle at base of Lenin’s

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17
Q

Why are motorneurons and muscles necessary in spinal nucleus of bulbocavernosurs Breedlove and Arnold 1980

A

Motor neurons and muscles necessary for normal penile reflexes important successful copulation

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18
Q

What are the direct masculinising effects testosterone

A

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

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19
Q

Interaction nature and nurture testosterone exerts some masculinising effects SNB and sexual behaviour via rat mother - Moore 1992

A

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

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20
Q

Sex circuits relevant to mating behaviour in rodents

A

Sex circuits constrain sex hormone receptors
Critical sexually dimorphic mating testosterone for male
Estradiol and progesterone for female

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21
Q

Outline sexually dimorphic nucleus of preoptic area SDN-POA relevant mating behaviours in rodents

A

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

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22
Q

Outline ventral nucleus of hypothalamus relevant mating behaviours in rodents

A

Important females
Medial amygdala both males and females
Dimorphism acts different males to females

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23
Q

Outline sexually dimorphic components relevant mating behaviours in rodents

A

SDN POA - masculinised testosterone during critical perinatal period

MePD volume and cell size depend testosterone action adulthood - activational effect

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24
Q

Outline sexual dimorphisms in humans to rodent SNB

A

Ventrolateral cell group of Onufs nucleus in human spinal cord
Bigger males higher motor neuron count

25
Outline Fliers and Swaab 1985 study sexual dimorphisms in human preoptic area of hypothalamus
One nucleus in POA hypothalamus larger in volume and cell number in males Nucleus SDN sexually dimorphic. Declines with age
26
Outline Allen et al 1989 study sexual dimorphisms in human preoptic area of hypothalamus
``` 4 nuclei in POA INAH 1-4 INAH1 correspond SDN Fliers 1985 Not differ between sexes INAH4 not differ INAH2-3 not differ between homosexual men and heterosexual women ```
27
What does INAH stand for according to Allen et al 1989
Interstitial nuclei of anterior hypothalamus
28
What occurs result INAH2-3 according to Allen et al 1989
INAH2-3 not differ between homosexual men and heterosexual women
29
Outline LeVay 1991 study on sexual dimorphisms in human preoptic area hypothalamus
Relationship between size nuclei and sexual preference no significant sex differences INAH1,2,4 INAH3 larger heterosexual men than women Did not differ between homosexual men and heterosexual women
30
What are the effects of INAH3 according to LeVay 1991
INAH3 larger heterosexual men than women | Did not differ between homosexual men and heterosexual women
31
What areas are critical for sexually dimorphic mating female lordosis
Ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus Contain sex hormone receptors stimulation critical for sexually dimorphic behaviour Activational effects sex hormones
32
Outline role pheromones in mating behaviour
Brain circuits determining male or female behaviour rely dormant both brain Activated pheromones - hormone like releases urine act on cumbersome nasal organs Or human sweat
33
Conclusion sexually dimorphism
Exist CNS implicated sexually dimorphic mating | Neural sexual dimorphism’s contribute to behavioural sexual dimorphisms
34
Conclusions of organisational hypothesis
Some aspects sexually dimorphic mating behaviour and relevant neural sexual dimorphisms show in rodents Involve organising effects sex steroids during critical developmental periods
35
What does aggressive behaviour involve
Threat or attack Not unitary concept Some aspects strongly related reproductive behaviour - competition mating, protection offspring
36
Outline Rodents aspects of aggression
Aggression mediated brain regions overlap with regions implicated reproductive behaviour Sex dependent (dimorphic) under influence sex steroids (role testosterone)
37
Outline humans aspects aggression that are sexually dimorphic
Effect sizes different ratings aggressiveness based competitiveness
38
Outline how studying heterosexual and homosexual males in aggression is effective
Aggression levels same but experiences may be different Can separate influence environment to hormones Small effect size males be more aggressive Larger difference heterosexual and homosexual males
39
How does testosterone contribute to sex differences
By acting on brain
40
What other factors contribute to sex differences
Men on average physically stronger
41
Female advantages of sex differences in cognitive functions
Perceptual speed Visual memory Verbal fluency Fine motor skills
42
Male advantages of sex differences in cognitive functions
``` Spatial rotation Paper folding Target accuracy Embedded figures All spatial tasks ```
43
Outline male cognitive advantages identified in rodents
Place learning and navigation
44
Outline cognitive abilities identified in prairie voles
Evolved due to ecological pressures Only exist polygamous species makes Range more widely than females Correlate larger hippocampus - critical for spatial learning in males
45
Outline monogamous species and sex differences in cognitive abilities
Monogamous species - similar abilities in sexes
46
Outline sex differences in cognitive functions in hippocampus
Differences found in rats and men Rodents hippocampus larger in males Humans hippocampus smaller in males
47
Outline fMRI study on sexual differences in cognitive abilities
Suggests men may use their hippocampus more than women To navigate a virtual maze for spatial navigation
48
Outline navigating maze study on sexual differences in cognitive abilities
Navigate maze using joy stick activated in women frontoparietal activation Linked egocentric strategy - going left or right Men linked hippocampus - external cues
49
Outline Examplar study in rats by Markowska 1999 water maze
Find hidden platform using hidden spatial cues in maze Inductive measure - measured distance and time Males better faster and travel less. Efficient Better place learning and navigation in males
50
Outline Astur 1998 Exemplar study in humans
Virtual water maze on computer | Males more efficient spatial learning and navigation
51
Outline sex differences in mental rotation and water jar task - Gladue and Bailey 1995
Mental rotation: 20 items 2 correct and 2 incorrect choices Water jar task: 10 items jar tilted different angles. Ppts draw line assuming jar half full Effect size .5 mental rotation .4 water jar
52
Outline William the Worm task by Buckley and Bast 2018
Virtual maze task rapidly learn where William Worm hidden in lawn Large sample 80% power Significant difference Effect size .5
53
Compare William the worm task to mental rotation performance
Men on average better both Performance measures place learning and mental rotation not significantly correlate Implies sex differences 2 tests likely rely on different neuropsychological mechanisms
54
Other reasons for men having good performance on William the Worm task
People played video games performed better - mainly men
55
Why do cognitive sex difference only allow for very limited predictions of cognitive abilities
Men better rapid place learning or mental rotation test with effect size .5 Means any randomly picked male probability him being better any randomly picked female 64% No average sex difference probably 50> Concerning effect sizes and their interpretation compare
56
Why are sex differences in brain sites not primarily associated with sexual behaviour
Brain weight and volume also higher in males = abolished terms and relative body size Neuroanatomical sexual dimorphisms contribute sex differences in behaviour and cognition not known
57
Sex differences in the incidence of neuropsychiatric diseases of affective disorders and anxiety
Affective disorders and anxiety exception mania more prevalent women
58
Sex differences in the incidence of substance abuse and antisocial personality
Substances abuse and antisocial personality more prevalent in men
59
Sex differences in the incidence of autism
Autism more prevalent males 4:1

Neuroscience (12 decks)

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