Reproductive Behaviors

Question 1

Medial preoptic area (MPA)

Answer 1

Critical for MALE sexual behavior, sexual activity increases firing in this area; also critical for parenting behavior

Question 2

Ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH)

Answer 2

Critical for FEMALE sexual behavior

Question 3

Amygdala, periaqueductal gray matter (in midbrain), medulla (normally inhibits sexual behavior but is itself inhibited by the MPA)

Answer 3

Sexual stimulation/input

Question 4

Estrogens

Answer 4

Sex hormones that cause maturation of female sexual characteristics

Question 5

Progesterone

Answer 5

Promotes and sustains pregnancy

Question 6

Androgens

Answer 6

Male sex steroid hormone responsible for development of male sexual characteristics

Question 7

Dopamine

Answer 7

Provides “reward signal”, floods the brain and produces feeling of excitement or well being, makes us desire to repeat action

Question 8

Vasopressin

Answer 8

associated with pair bonding to mates and offspring

Question 9

Hypothalamus

Answer 9

Secretes gonodoropin-releasing hormone, stimulates anterior pituitary gland to release gonadotropin hormones

Question 10

Ovaries

Answer 10

Release estradiol

Question 11

Testes

Answer 11

Release testosterone

Question 12

Oxytocin

Answer 12

Associated with pair bonding in humans to mates and offspring, released in response to meaningful touch, associated with increased levels of trust