Sexual Differences in Brain Development

Question 1

Presence/Absence of Testosterone during prenatal period and early infancy

Answer 1

=> differences in brain

Question 2

Medial Preoptic Area (MPOA)

Answer 2

of Hypothalamus

has Androgen receptor sites, is esp active during Male sexual behavior

includes the Sexually Dimorphic Nucleus

early testosterone is required for this level, and w/o it adult male will not respond normally to androgen activity

Question 3

Sexually Dimorphic Nucleus

Answer 3

in MPOA

2.5X large in males than in Females

Question 4

Ventro-Medial Hypothalamus (VMH)

Answer 4

has Estrogen receptor sites

is esp active during Female sexual behavior

develops (esp sensitivity to estrogens) in absence of early Testosteron

Area also implicated in control of eating

Question 5

eating

Answer 5

is more hormonally regulated in females

eating for two

Question 6

INAH3

Answer 6

part of Sexually Dimorphic Nucleus

larger in Heterosexual Males

smaller in Females and Homosexual Males

Question 7

Corpus Callosum

Answer 7

fibers connecting right and left cortical hemispheres

thicker in Females - probably contribute to females showing less lateralization

Question 8

Right Cerebral Cortex slightly larger in

Answer 8

males

Question 9

Left Cerebral Cortex slightly larger in

Answer 9

females