Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Psyc 342 > parental and social behaviour > Flashcards

parental and social behaviour Flashcards

1
Q

main hormones involved in parental and social behaviour

A
  1. progesterone
  2. prolactin
  3. oxytocin
  4. estradiol
  5. testosterone
  6. vasopressin
  7. cortisol

p poetvc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what is prolactin produced by? in response to what?

A

anterior pituitary

in response to prolactin-releasing factor (which is produced by the hypothalamus)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what role does prolactin play in females?

A

central role in lactation and milk production after childbirth

during pregnancy, prolactin levels rise steadily

this prepares the breasts for lactation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

rising levels of ______ during pregnancy prepares what?

A

rising levels of PROLACTIN

prepare the BREASTS for LACTATION

prolactin doesn’t release milk - it produces it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

role of prolactin in males

A

various functions

regulation of:

  1. immune system
  2. metabolism
  3. reproduction
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

prolactin’s effects on reproductive function in males…

A
  1. sperm production
  2. regulation of testosterone levels
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

where is oxytocin produced? what’s it released by?

A

produced in hypothalamus

released by posterior pituitary gland

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

4 things that oxytocin is involved in

A
  1. labor and childbirth
  2. maternal behaviour
  3. stress regulation
  4. social behaviour
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

role of oxytocin in LABOUR and CHILDBIRTH

A

stimulates uterine contractions during labour

facilitates childbirth

promotes ejection of milk during breastfeeding

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

_______ produces breast milk and _______ releases it

A

prolactin produces

oxytocin releases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

role of oxytocin in MATERNAL BEHAVIOUR

A

often referred to as the “love/bonding hormone”

associated with intimate physical contact

hugging, kissing, attachment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

role of oxytocin in STRESS REGULATION

A

attenuates release of stress hormones (like cortisol)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

role of oxytocin in SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

A

influences empathy, generosity, social cognition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

estradiol comes from same family as…

A

estrogen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

where is estradiol produced in women and in men?

A

women: ovaries

men: testes (in small amounts)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

when do estradiol levels raise in women?

A

during FOLLICULAR PHASE

which occurs before ovulation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

estradiol - what’s its crucial role in women?

A

development and maintenance of female reproductive tissues

influences secondary sexual characteristics
- breast development
- body fat distribution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

how is estradiol synthesized in men?

A

synthesized in small amounts in testes

testosterone is converted to estradiol through enzyme AROMATASE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what enzyme is needed in order for estradiol to be present in men?

A

aromatase

aromatase converts testosterone to estradiol in men

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

estradiol and progesterone are produced in both men and women, but are more influential in…

A

women

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what phase of the menstrual cycle are estradiol and progesterone associated with?

A

estradiol: follicular phase, before ovulation
- “first” phase

progesterone: luteal phase
- “second” phase
- after ovulation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what is the main production source of progesterone in women?

A

corpus luteum

in the ovary after ovulation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

what does progesterone do?

A

prepares uterine lining for potential implantation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

primary source of progesterone during pregnancy

A

placenta

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

in both men and women, small amounts of progesterone are produced by…

A

adrenal glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

progesterone produced by adrenal glands do what?

A

various roles in regulating:

  1. metabolism
  2. stress responses
  3. other physiological functions
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

cortisol belongs to class of hormone called…

A

glucocorticoids

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

cortisol plays vital role in body’s…

A
  1. stress response
  2. regulation of various physiological processes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

cortisol nickname

A

“stress hormone”

because it’s released in response to stress

helps body cope with stressful situations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

cortisol is involved in the ____-term stress response

A

long

released 20-30 mins after stressful event

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

testosterone belongs to which class of steroid hormone?

A

androgens

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

where is testosterone produced in males and females?

A

males: testes

women: ovaries and adrenal glands (in lesser amounts)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

primary male sex hormone

A

testosterone

but it also plays important roles in women’s health (like menopause)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

testosterone is involved in…

A
  1. secondary sexual characteristics
  2. libido and sexual function
  3. bone health
  4. muscle mass/strength
  5. metabolism and fat distribution
  6. mood
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

vasopressin alternative name

A

anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)

makes us retain liquid - not pee

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

what kind of hormone class does vasopressin fall under?

A

peptide hormone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

where is vasopressin produced? what’s it released by?

A

produced by hypothalamus

released by posterior pituitary gland

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

what does vasopressin do?

A

regulation of:

  1. water balance
  2. blood pressure
  3. social behaviour
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

social behaviour: higher levels of vasopressin are associated with…

A

various aspects of social bonding and affiliation

  1. pair bonding
  2. parental behaviour
  3. aggression and territoriality
  4. social recognition and memory
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

gorilla example

A

kids falling into gorilla enclosures

2 very diff responses:

  1. either protect the child
  2. or drag it away

these diff responses have hormonal components

ie. both of the instances of protection were undertaken by lactating females

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

parental behaviour

A

behaviours performed in relation to one’s offspring that contribute directly to the SURVIVAL of:

fertilized eggs or offspring that have left body of the female

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

parental behaviour is critical for…

A

infant survival in many species (including humans)

hence it’s critical for reproductive success of individual parent(s)

mere reproduction isn’t enough!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

amount of assistance that parents provide _____ _______, both _____ and ______ species. what does this reflect?

A

varies widely

between and among

reflects an OPTIMAL EVOLUTIONARY STRATEGY for maximizing fitness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

optimal strategy for each parent…

A

is to provide SUFFICIENT CARE, BUT NO MORE than absolutely necessary to produce successful offspring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

parental investment

A

extent to which parents COMPROMISE their ability to produce ADDITIONAL OFFSPRING in order to assist current offspring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

which sex is choosier about potential mates?

A

the sex making the larger investment in the offspring

the sex that contributes fewer resources to offspring success COMPETE among themselves to be chosen

most mammals: females are choosier and invest the most parental care

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

parental behaviour can be divided into…

A

maternal or paternal behavour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

parental investment varies according to…

A
  1. offspring’s MATURITY AT BIRTH
  2. NUMBER of offspring
  3. SURVIVAL FIT of the offspring
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

2 categories of offspring’s maturity at birth

A
  1. precocial born offspring
  2. altricial born offspring
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

precocial born offspring

A

born/hatched at ADVANCED stage of development

require little/no parental intervention for survival

have fur (thermoregulation), can walk and see

ie. guinea pigs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

altricial born offpsring

A

born/hatched at EARLY stage of development

generally quite helpless, require substantial parental care to survive

ie. kangaroos

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

are humans precocial or altricial?

A

neither, we’re SEMI-PRECOCIALS

born in INTERMEDIATE state between altricial and precocial

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

semi-precocial

A

in between precocial and altricial

born with some degree of development and independence

but still need parental investment

ie. humans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

in animals that display parental care, the behaviour must be performed…

A
  1. correctly (little margin for error)
  2. initially must be performed without previous experience
  3. must begin immediately after hatching/birth
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

main maternal behaviours in dogs

A
  1. day or two before giving birth, pregnant dog BUILDS NEST in which she’ll deliver her babies
  2. as each pup is born, mother behaves solicitously toward it
    - licks off amniotic fluid
    - licks membranes and anogenital region (stimulates elimination of wastes and other physiological processes)
  3. know how to lay down to expose nipples to nurse
  4. retrieves puppies if they stray
  5. show maternal aggression to intruders
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

are dogs precocial, semi-precocial or altricial?

A

altricial

  1. blind and partially deaf
  2. coats aren’t completely established
  3. thermoregulatory and locomotor abilities aren’t fully developed
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

what onsets mammalian parental behaviour in dogs?

A

hormones associated with pregnancy and lactation

they affect motivation to engage in parental care

they are important in initiating and maintaining maternal care

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

hormones that trigger parental behaviour ____ soon after birth of young, leading to…

A

wane

the waning of many maternal behaviours

nursing and many other behaviours completely disappear after a few additional weeks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

_________ care is much more common

A

maternal

with exception of most birds and some fish, paternal behaviour is rare in the animal kingdom

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

why is maternal care more common?

A

because females and males differ in how they can best MAXIMIZE REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
61
Q

maximizing reproductive success: males versus females

A

females: tend to put majority of their reproductive effort into parental care

because each offspring reps a substantial proportion of a female’s lifetime investment of time and resources

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
62
Q

reproductive costs for women

A

show how many resources women put into offspring - helps explain their investment in parental care

  1. pregnancy lasts 9 months
  2. lactation-induced infertility delays further reproductive efforts for another year or two

during this same time, a man could potentially fertilize hundreds of women

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
63
Q

lactational amenorrhea

A

amenorrhea: menstruation interruption

temporary postnatal infertility that occurs when a woman is breastfeeding

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
64
Q

3 mechanisms behind lactational amenorrhea

A
  1. high levels of prolactin (from breastfeeding) suppresses hypothalamic neurons that directly control release of GnRH
  2. less GnRH secretion leads to decreased LH production by anterior pituitary
  3. inadequate LH inhibits progression of follicular phase, resulting in no ovulation and amenorrhea
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
65
Q

inducing lactation without pregnacy

A

mothers who are using surrogates will do this, same-sex partnerships

  1. hormonal therapy
  2. breast stimulation
  3. regular breast pumping/nursing to mimic conditions that promote milk production
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
66
Q

3 factors associated with sex differences in parental behaviour

A
  1. efforts in mating/parental behaviour
  2. birth developmental stage of offspring
  3. how males are able to meet offspring’s needs
67
Q

sex differences: efforts in mating/parental behaviour

A

FEMALES: mating with additional males while pregnant/lactating does nothing to increase reproductive success

  • unless this provides resources to female/offspring

MALES: reproductive success depends on the number of females he fertilizes

  • so males deliberate on whether it’s more advantageous to forgo additional mating opportunities or to help raise his offspring
68
Q

sex differences: birth developmental stage of the offspring

A

depending on offspring’s required level of care, in some situations TWO ADULTS are required to guarantee survival of the young

this is the case in many AVIAN species

can be observed if parental males achieve higher reproductive success than non-parental males

69
Q

sex differences: how males are able to meet offspring’s demands

A

ie. males birds are just as capable as females of providing parental care (nest construction, egg incubation, feeding)

male and female birds can regurgitate meals and feed to young

SHARP CONTRAST with most mammalian species, in which only the mother can meet offsprings’ nutritional demands

70
Q

birds display enormous _______ in parental behaviour, and offspring _________ at birth

A

diversity

development

a) biparental

b) female only (chickens)

c) adoptive (alloparental care - provided by individuals other than their genetic parents)

71
Q

discovery of prolactin’s effects on parental behaviour

A
  1. blood serum from BROODY HEN could induce a non-incubating hen to sit on a clutch of eggs
  2. increased blood concentrations of prolactin = associated with broodiness in ALL FEMALE BIRDS studied to date
  3. after maternal behaviour has been initiated by hormones, virtually ANY CONTACT, even when provided by the young of ANOTHER SPECIES (cats), is sufficient to maintain normal broody behaviour in the hen
72
Q

birds: sex steroid trajectory from courtship behaviour to egg laying to incubation

A
  1. sex steroids INCREASE coincident with onset of COURTSHIP behaviour
  2. PEAK during time of EGG LAYING (ovioposition)
  3. RAPIDLY DECREASE to baseline prior to INCUBATION
73
Q

birds: what happens to prolactin if the egg is fertilized?

A

if egg is fertilized, PROLACTIN concentrations begin to INCREASE at time of egg laying

they REMAIN HIGH during incubation

DROP OFF GRADUALLY to baseline during post-hatching care

74
Q

in Penguins and Florida scrub jays, prolactin concentrations correlate with…

A

the amount of care provided to the offspring

levels = increased in BREEDING individuals and HELPERS

75
Q

birds: prolactin concentrations increase post-laying and are associated with…

A

elevated food consumption by the breeding pair

presumably to support foraging for insects for the squab

as prolactin falls, the crop mixture changes from crop milk at hatching to mainly seeds/insects

76
Q

crop milk production is related to…

A

prolactin

higher prolactin post-laying = more crop milk

77
Q

prolactin concentrations in precocial versus altricial bird species

A

although all avian species display elevated prolactin concentrations during incubation…

precocial: prolactin concentrations DECLINE at time of hatching

altricial: prolactin concentrations remain high throughout chick rearing

78
Q

prolactin was initially considered the critical hormone underlying maternal behaviour, but…

A

its increase is only observed close to parturition (birth)

mammalian species display elevated ESTROGEN concentrations around the time of birth, and these hormones are critical for ONSET of MATERNAL BEHAVIOUR

so not just prolactin - estrogen too

79
Q

in contrast to other species, pregnancy in humans is characterized by…

A

high concentrations of BOTH ESTRADIOL and PROGESTERONE THROUGHOUT PREGNANCY

followed by precipitous drop in concentrations of both steroids at patrurition (birth)

80
Q

humans: drop in progesterone and estrogen levels after birth is believed to…

A

contribute to onset of POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION in some women

although exact mechanisms aren’t fully understood

81
Q

human pregnancy: when do oxytocin and endorphins increase?

A

around time of parturition

and are maintained afterwards

82
Q

human pregnancy: why is it important for oxytocin levels to increase around parturition?

A

contributes to smooth muscle contractions necessary for giving birth

83
Q

human pregnancy: why is it important for endorphin levels to increase around parturition?

A

endorphins aka natural opioids

controversial

may reduce pain during childbirth, may be involved in maternal behaviour

84
Q

ACTH and cortisol levels _______ during pregnancy

A

increase

  1. elevation of cortisol concentrations may serve to LOWER PROGESTERONE concentrations
  2. in addition to SUPPRESSING IMMUNE REACTIONS of the mother towards her fetus
85
Q

initially the prolactin experimental manipulation in birds _______ to induce maternal behaviour. this raised the hypothesis that…

A

failed

experiences can also influence maternal behaviour

86
Q

rat experiment: experience can also influence maternal behaviour…

A

in nulliparous (individuals that have never given birth) rats, transfusion of BLOOD from a NEW MOTHER is associated with maternal behaviour ONLY IF sensitization occurred (blood transfusions over at least 4-6 days)

conclusion: SENSITIZATION is required to induce maternal behaviour in nulliparous females

87
Q

_______ is required to induce maternal behaviour in nulliparous female rats

A

sensitization

88
Q

maternal aggression importance

A

protection of offspring from predators is an important component of maternal care

maternal aggression is one mechanism by which female mammals protect their offspring

89
Q

onset of maternal aggression is regulated by…

A

hormones

but hormonal control of maternal aggression differs from hormonal control of other components of maternal behaviour

because it is RARELY OBSERVED IN ABSENCE OF THE OFFSPRING

90
Q

are hormones like progesterone the only things that contribute to maternal behaviours?

A

no

ie. maternal aggression - in this case, the presence of pups and various other factors also influence the onset and expression of maternal aggression

91
Q

4 converging lines of evidence pointing to role of progesterone in mediating maternal aggression

A
  1. progesterone treatment elevates rate of aggressive behaviour
  2. pseudo pregnant females become more aggressive as blood concentrations of progesterone increase
  3. pregnant dams begin to show signs of maternal aggression when peak concentrations of progesterone occur
  4. surgical pregnancy termination, which reduces progesterone, eliminates maternal aggression, and progesterone replacement partially restores maternal aggression
92
Q

testosterone and progesterone connection

A

testosterone - more related to aggression in males

progesterone - more related to aggression in females

93
Q

2 ways to measure parental behaviour in humans

A
  1. questionnaires
    - collect info about mothers’ perceptions of their behaviours, attitudes, and feelings
  2. behaviour analysis
    - behavioural responses of new mothers to their 3-4 day old infants are recorded
    - responses like patting, cuddling, kissing the baby are scored and classified
94
Q

questionnaire findings of parental behaviour in humans

A
  1. hedonic ratings of a variety of infant-associated odours (ie. body, urine, feces) were found to be more pleasant by new mothers than nonmothers
  2. mothers and fathers were more likely to correctly identify t-shirts that had been worn by their own infants
  3. mothers and fathers could also discriminate between the odours of two samples of amniotic fluid and identify the fluid associated with their own infant
95
Q

what two things are important in establishing a mother’s attraction to her newborn infant’s odors?

A
  1. hormone concentrations
  2. learning
96
Q

connection between mothers being more attracted to infant’s odours and hormones

A

within the CNS, receptors for OXYTOCIN and VASOPRESSIN are found in the:

  1. OLFACTORY system
  2. limbic-hypothalamic system
  3. ventral forebrain
  4. brainstem
  5. spinal cord
97
Q

pathway triggered by infant odour when smelled by mothers

A

vomeronasal organ >
accessory olfactory bulb >
medial nuclei of amygdala >
1) bed nucleus of stria terminalis
2) medial preoptic area

oxytocin triggers cascade of events following this pathway, which leads to maternal behaviours

in rodents, attraction to newborn odors depends predominantly on PHEROMONAL olfactory cues detected by VOMERONASAL organ and transmitted to ACCESSORY OLFACTORY BULB and thus to the AMYGDALA
- these structures are rich in oxytocin receptors

98
Q

what happens when any one area on the maternal behaviour pathway is lesioned?

A

lesions anywhere along this pathway interfere with CHEMOSENSORY PROCESSING and IMPEDE maternal behaviour

99
Q

approach behaviour

A

example of parental behaviour in humans

patting, cuddling, kissing the baby

talking, singing, cooing to the baby

these all show CORRELATIONS WITH HORMONES

100
Q

what specific hormone was associated with approach behaviour?

A

cortisol

cortisol was positively associated with approach behaviour

women who had high concentrations of blood cortisol (in samples obtained immediately before or after nursing):

  1. engaged in more physically affectionate behaviours
  2. talked more often to their babies

more so than mothers with low cortisol concentrations

101
Q

does cortisol induce maternal behaviours directly?

A

no

but it may act indirectly on the quality of maternal care by evoking an INCREASE in mother’s GENERAL LEVEL OF AROUSAL

102
Q

relation between cortisol and attraction to infants odours is found only…

A

in FIRST-TIME MOTHERS

in whom hormonal effects would presumably be most necessary

103
Q

oxytocin and affection

A

parents with high oxytocin levels displayed significantly MORE AFFECTIONATE contact compared to parents with low oxytocin

constructed the interaction towards readiness for social engagement by increasing social salience in response to infant social gaze

104
Q

women with the greatest increases in oxytocin as their pregnancies progress show…

A

the highest levels of maternal BONDING when observed with their infants

105
Q

2 expectations of hormonal specificities in paternal care

A
  1. higher levels of prolactin
  2. decrease in testosterone concentrations seem to mediate paternal behaviour
106
Q

what happened to hormone levels after skin-to-skin paternal-offspring contact?

A

oxytocin levels significantly increased

cortisol levels significantly decreased

during and after SKIN-TO-SKIN contact

engaging in more parental care (skin to skin contact) creates positive feedback

107
Q

some mice exhibit paternal care. behavioural and hormonal levels are associated depending on the ______ of the males

A

status

three groups were compared:
1. fathers
2. expectant 1st time fathers
3. unmated singles

108
Q

diff mice groups exposed to newborns show…

A
  1. unmated males displayed relatively LOW parental behaviour (19%)
  2. expectant fathers displayed AVERAGE levels of parenting (56%)
  3. fathers displayed HIGH parental behaviour (80%)

^maps on to prolactin levels (they’re highest in mothers, followed by fathers, expectant fathers…)

109
Q

is testosterone action straightforward?

A

no

unlike in birds and most mammals, in which higher testosterone levels are associated with low paternal care and even infanticide, testosterone appears necessary for paternal behaviour in California mice

110
Q

castration of California mice led to…

A

reduction in paternal behaviour

and testosterone replacement maintained high levels of paternal behaviour

111
Q

how does testosterone promote paternal behaviour in mice?

A

through its conversion to ESTRADIOL

California mice fathers have more aromatase activity than non-fathers in the MPOA (a brain area know to regulate maternal care)

112
Q

MPOA

A

a brain area known to regulate maternal care

California mouse fathers have more aromatase activity than non-fathers in the MPOA
- and aromatase converts testosterone to estradiol

113
Q

does higher testosterone always lead to less paternal care?

A

no! think about the california mice

testosterone is converted into estradiol

which promotes paternal behaviour

castrated mice show reduced paternal behaviour

114
Q

do hormonal correlates of human behaviour resemble the factors associated with paternal behaviour in other mammals?

A

yes

115
Q

hormonal correlates of mammal paternal behaviours

A

testosterone
- fathers have higher estradiol
- fathers have lower testosterone

prolactin

cortisol
- father have lower cortisol

116
Q

fathers hormonal levels in connection to their responses to infant cries

A
  1. fathers who hear baby’s cries are more sympathetic and alert than controls
  2. fathers with low testosterone levels felt more sympathy and need to respond to baby cries

essentially, human fathers are more responsive than non-fathers - as a result of hormones and parenting experience

117
Q

6 brain areas implicated in parental behaviour

A
  1. prefrontal cortex (PFC)
  2. amygdala
  3. bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST)
  4. mesolimbic dopamine pathway
  5. hypothalamus
  6. medial preoptic area (MPOA)
118
Q

PFC - role in parental behaviour

A
  1. regulation of parental behaviours
  2. processing of social cues related to offspring
119
Q

amygdala - role in parental behaviour

A
  1. emotional processing and social behaviour more broadly
  2. regulation of maternal/parental behaviours
  3. processing of social cues related to offspring
120
Q

bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST)

A

part of the extended amygdala

  1. stress responses
  2. social behaviours
  3. reproductive behaviours
  4. parental care

activated when parent hears baby cry

121
Q

what is activated when parent hears a baby cry?

A

bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST)

122
Q

mesolimbic dopamine pathway - role in parental behaviour

A

includes regions like the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and (nucleus acccumbens) NAc

  1. reward and motivation
  2. reinforcement of parental behaviours
  3. processing of rewarding aspects of caregiving
123
Q

hypothalamus - role in parental behaviour

A

regulates various physiological processes

  1. involved in release of hormones related to parenting (oxytocin, vasopressin)
  2. crucial role in maternal/paternal behaviours (nest building, pup retrieval, caregiving)
124
Q

medial preoptic area - role in parental behaviour

A
  1. regulation of maternal/paternal care
  2. mating
  3. sexual behaviour
125
Q

3 points on social behaviour

A
  1. social behaviour encompasses interactions between individuals from which one or more of the individuals benefit
  2. purposely broad definition: includes aggressive behaviour, particularly in context of territorial defence and infant protection
  3. also includes non-hostile interactions: affiliation, courtship, arental parental behaviours
126
Q

PROS of group living

A
  1. ANTIPREDATOR: detection, defense and dilution (dispersion)
  2. elevated FORAGING efficiency: search for and consumption of food and resources in environment
  3. group DEFENSE of RESOURCES
  4. increased MATING opportunities
127
Q

CONS of group living

A
  1. increased DISEASE transmission
  2. increased COMPETITION for RESOURCES (food, mates, nesting site)
  3. increased CONSPICUOUSNESS to predators
128
Q

in order for group living to occur, presumably the costs…

A

must be outweighed by the benefits

129
Q

affiliation

A

form of social behaviour that involves individual’s MOTIVATION TO APPROACH and remain in CLOSE PROXIMITY with a CONSPECIFIC

130
Q

affiliation behaviour seems to have evolved from…

A

parental behaviour

HORMONES associated with regulation of parental behaviour may have been CO-OPTED over evolution to serve as MODULATORS of some features of prosocial behaviours

131
Q

persona non-grata in bat communities

A

bats can spot FREELOADERS

(those that never go out to hunt because it’s easier to sit in cave and wait for someone to bring food to them)

and REFUSE to FEED them

hormonally marked as ‘lazy bats’

132
Q

social familiarity falls under the larger heading of…

A

affiliation

133
Q

first stage of social bonding

A

formation of SOCIAL FAMILIARITY

134
Q

what does formation of social familiarity depend upon in rodents?

A

pheromonal OLFACTORY cues

detected by Vomeronasal organ

with successive activations of pheromonal cues, a sense of familiarity occurs through action of oxytocin

135
Q

pathway of pheromonal olfactory cues in rodents

A

detection: vomeronasal organ >

olfactory bulb >

amygdala >

amygdala is rich in oxycotin receptors

136
Q

pathway of pheromonal olfactory cues in rodents show a MARKED INCREASE when…

A

another stranger is introduced

this activation and observable behaviours = used as QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT of social recognition memory

137
Q

rodents: what is used as a quantitative assessment of social recognition memory?

A
  1. activity of the pheromonal olfactory pathway
  2. easily observed behaviours
138
Q

mutant mice lacking oxytocin gene fails…

A

to develop social memory

139
Q

lesions anywhere along rodent pheronomal olfactory pathway interferes…

A
  1. interferes with chemosensory processing
  2. impedes maternal behaviour
  3. impedes social familiarity
140
Q

rats: oxytocin and partner preferences experiment

A
  1. oxytocin group:
    females injected with oxytocin and housed with strange male for 6 hours
  2. placebo group:
    females injected with placebo and housed with strange male for 6 hours

PREFERENCE TEST:
free choice between two compartments: housing male she was previously partnered with or with a new strange male

RESULTS:
oxytocin group showed significant preference for the FAMILIAR male over the new male

141
Q

rats: oxytocin and partner preferences experiment - injection of an oxytocin receptor antagonist…

A

injection of oxytocin receptor antagonist directly into the NUCLEUS ACCUMBENS blocks formation of partner preferences in female

142
Q

rats: oxytocin and partner preferences experiment - in some cases (mainly in males)…

A

VASOPRESSIN rather than oxytocin appears to play a more important role in social familiarity

studies demonstrate that infusions of vasopressin facilitates partner preference

143
Q

sex differences: pair bond formation and oxytocin/vasopressin

A

although EXOGENOUS administration of both oxytocin and vasopressin facilitates pair bond formation in both sexes…

  1. ENDOGENOUS OXYTOCIN seems more important in pair bonding formation in FEMALES
  2. ENDOGENOUS VASOPRESSIN appears to be more important for MALES

mechanism underlying this diff = mysterious - because distribution of oxytocin and vasopressin receptors is similar in both sexes

144
Q

feelings of positive regard for a romantic partner are associated with higher…

A

oxytocin plasma concentrations

couples displaying HIGH INTERACTIVE RECIPROCITY scores had elevated plasma oxytocin concentrations 3 months into relationship

individuals in COUPLES had higher oxytocin concentrations than singles

145
Q

oxytocin can give a _____ in romantic perception

A

boost

intra-nasally injected oxytocin in both males and females

men exposed to oxytocin perceived and rate female partners as more attractive than female strangers

associated with different activations in the NAc

146
Q

affiliation rates in dogs after being treated with intranasal oxytocin versus saline

A

oxytocin:
- higher affiliation rate with human companion and with other dogs

saline:
- lower affiliation rate with human companion and with other dogs

147
Q

sex steroid hormone variations and affiliation: testosterone and males (6 points)

A
  1. men with lower testosterone levels = more likely to MARRY
  2. married men with high testosterone levels = more likely to DIVORCE
  3. single men had 21% higher testosterone levels compared to married men
  4. males who had been in committed relationship in the past (but were now single) had significantly higher levels of testosterone than males who had never had a romantic relationship
  5. polyamorous males had high levels of testosterone - similar to single males
148
Q

high levels of testosterone are not great for…

A

partnership

(in males)

149
Q

sex steroid hormone variation and affiliation with SAME SEX PEERS

A

seasonal variation

summer:
- HIGH circulating sex steroid hormone concentrations tend to be associated with LOW TOLERANCE for close proximity of same sex peers

winter:
- LOW circulating sex steroid hormones/reduction in concentrations permits SOCIAL TOLERANCE and PROSOCIAL interactions

150
Q

testosterone and aggression

A

higher levels of testosterone = correlated with increased aggression across various species

testosterone influences NEURAL CIRCUITS and NEUROTRANSMITTER SYSTEMS involved in aggression

can also be influenced by SOCIAL CONTEXT and SEX

151
Q

salivary testosterone concentrations among men in 6 different occupations

A

from lowest to highest

minister
salesman
fireman
professor
physician
NFL player

152
Q

relationship between testosterone concentrations in saliva and behaviour of female prisoners

A

type of crime:
a) violent crime offenders had higher testosterone levels than nonviolent ones

prison rule violations:
a) those with some prison rule violations had higher testosterone than those with no rule violations

153
Q

testosterone: in response to win/loss

A

in men:
a) winning elevates testosterone concentrations
b) this increase is associated with subsequent aggression
c) losing decreases testosterone

in women:
a) winning doesn’t change testosterone levels
b) aggression is lower

154
Q

6 main points from the lecture

A
  1. onset of parental behaviour vary according to developmental level of offspring at birth, and parental investment
  2. steroid and oxytocin systems may act to ‘maternalize’ the brain during pregnancy and parturition
  3. oxytocin and vasopressin may facilitate early stages of social bond formation - these actions focus on dopamine reward pathways in the NAc and ventral pallidum (so hormones influence limbic system emotional centres and dopaminergic reward centres)
  4. social behaviour involves interactions between individuals in which one or more of the animals benefit from the interaction
  5. affiliative behaviours are affected by peptide hormones like vasopressin and oxytocin, and by glucocorticoids (all of which also influence parental behaviours)
  6. androgens are linked to aggressive behaviour by several kinds of circumstantial evidence
155
Q

decoding the maternal brain - Laura Glynn video PART 1

A

pregnancy/motherhood is a critical developmental time for the female brain

hormones change dramatically during pregnancy (more than any other time during life)

use rodent models

enhanced sense of smell in mothers, increased neuronal growth in maternal areas, hippocampus shows neuronal growth

changes in brain translate to changes in behaviour

mother rats are bolder - fend off threats

changes in brain/behaviour persist throughout female’s lifespan

with each pregnancy/birth, these effects accumulate

but we know very little about the HUMAN maternal brain - there’s a critical knowledge gap

156
Q

decoding the maternal brain - Laura Glynn video PART 2 - stress responses of pregnant women

A

mothers show a DOWN-REGULATION OF STRESS RESPONSES

pregnant woman presented with a stressor, stress hormone and HR/BP responses will be LOWER than non-pregnant woman

women who experienced earthquake during first trimester rated it as MORE STRESSFUL than women who experienced it in the second trimester

and those who experienced it in the third rate it as even LESS STRESSFUL

157
Q

decoding the maternal brain - Laura Glynn video - adaptive purpose of the down-regulated stress response

A

pregnant women show a down-regulated stress response (lower stress hormones and lower HR/BP responses)

  1. PROTECTS mother from adverse effects of stress

a) mothers who don’t experience this downregulation are at increased risk for delivering a PRE-TERM INFANT

  1. enhances mother’s ability to FEND OFF THREATS

a) decreased fear = better ability to respond to threat

158
Q

does lactation and breastfeeding continue decreased fear in mothers?

A

yes!

more likely to aggress upon provocation

159
Q

women who show the smallest physiological response to provocation…

A

show the most aggression in response to provocation

suggests that the down-regulated stress response is helping to fend off these threats

160
Q

late in pregnancy, women develop an increased ability to discriminate between…

A

emotions

like fear, anger and disgust

makes mom better at identifying threats

161
Q

what specific types of cognitive functions does pregnancy decrease?

A

verbal memory like recalling word lists

these effects are cumulative

performance decreases as women have more and more children

162
Q

do the cognitive effects of pregnancy persist?

A

we don’t know

verbal memory effects do stretch onto the first year postpartum, but beyond that we don’t know

163
Q

during post-partum period, what happens to mother’s grey matter volume?

A

increase in grey matter volume

full of neurons

increased grey matter in brain regions involved in INFANT CARE

164
Q

women who reported about their infants with the highest levels of positivity were also those who showed…

A

the largest increases in grey matter volume

Psyc 342 (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions