Sex and Pair Bonding

Question 1

What is the difference between exocrine and endocrine glands?

Answer 1

Exocrine is duct-based whereas endocrine is ductless

Question 2

Which structure in the hypothalamus controls the pituitary gland?

Answer 2

Paraventricular nucleus

Question 3

Which hormones with some sex-related function are released by anterior and posterior pituitary?

Answer 3

• Anterior: prolactin, ACTH, Gonadotropins

- Prosterior: oxytocin, vasopressin

Question 4

What are the three main classes of sex hormones and which glands release these?

Answer 4

• Androgen, Oestrogen and Progestins

- released by the testes, ovaries and adrenal cortex

Question 5

How does the presence of testosterone affect the fate of the wolffish and müllerian systems?

Answer 5

If testosterone is present the wolffian system develops causing the müllerian system to degenerate. If testosterone is absent then müllerian system develops into female reproductive ducts.

Question 6

What are the two areas of the adrenal gland that secrete sex steroids and epinephrine (adrenaline)?

Answer 6

• Adrenal medulla (releases adrenaline)

- Adrenal cortex releases sex hormones and cortisol (stress hormones)

Question 7

What is SRY and what effect does it have in gonads?

Answer 7

• SRY is responsible for the male sex determination

- the effect it has on gonads is that it masculinises the primordial gonads to produce a male

Question 8

Which 2 areas of the hypothalamus play a role in male and female sex behaviour?

Answer 8

• The ventromedial nucleus (female)

- The medial preoptic (male)

Question 9

Which 3 sex differences were noted in terms of adult behaviour?

Answer 9

• autism is greater in males
• females are better at verbal function
• males have better spatial functions

Question 10

What does orchidectomy tell us about testosterone levels and sexual desire in males?

Answer 10

• It does not effect their sex drive
• some experience a total loss of sexual interest whilst others show sexual engagement
• adrenal testosterone is still active
• sexual interest has a lot to do with the brain

Question 11

What role may be played by oestrogen exposure in the womb?

Answer 11

• oestrogen in the womb increased attraction to females in females

Question 12

Name one brain difference that has been associated with male homosexuality?

Answer 12

• interstitial nucleus of the anterior hypothalamus is bigger in heterosexual males than heterosexual females

Question 13

Which structures are involved in the dopamine reward system?

Answer 13

• prefrontal cortex
• nucleus accumbens
• ventral tegmental area

Question 14

How is the female response to sexual imagery modulated by the menstrual cycle?

Answer 14

• modulation of female sexually related behaviours depend on whether they are near ovulation (higher when ovulating)

Question 15

What role does oxytocin play in mothering?

Answer 15

Let’s the milk down during breast feeding

Question 16

Which 3 things have to happen after sex for pair-bonding to take place?

Answer 16

• oxytocin action
• dopamine action
• opioid action

Question 17

What did Sue carter find out about oxytocin’s role in pair bonding?

Answer 17

It’s key to pair-bond formation and the pathway includes oxytocin receptors in the nucleus accumbens and the pre-frontal cortex

Question 18

What Brian activation has been found to covary with how much one is in love with someone who’s face is visually presented?

Answer 18

Activation in the ventral tegmental area and the caudate (part of the basil ganglia)

Question 19

How does oestrogen affect sexual decision making (and risk reward decisions) in females?

Answer 19

There is a greater tendency among the women who engage in decision making

Question 20

What do twin studies tell us about the biological basis of homosexuality?

Answer 20

Because of the concordance rates between mz and dz twins there is a presence of genetic element for homosexuality

Question 21

What have we learnt from experiments that introduce oxytocin intranasally?

Answer 21

• visual attention towards the eyes (extraction of emotional info)
• communication with partner in positive direction (reduce conflict)
• lowers stress (makes people more trusting)
• this can be induced by cervical and breast stimulation

Question 22

What have we learnt about the role of vasopressin in human sexuality from intranasal dosing experiments?

Answer 22

• speeds up processing of sex related stimuli
• inhibits approach in men, promotes in women
• improves memory for facial emotion in men

Question 23

The action of which hormone coincides with sexual signalling with dress and behaviour in female?

Answer 23

Luteinising hormone

Question 24

What does the study on lap dancers tell us about the role of hormones in the projection of sexuality by females?

Answer 24

Females will project their sexuality at different levels and in different behaviours which affect their physical appearance. They earn more closer to ovulation