Testosterone Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

Sex hormones are produced by the…

A

gonads (ovaries + testes) and adrenal gland

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

2 main types of sex hormones

A

androgens (including testosterone + anabolic steroids)

oestrogen (including estradiol)

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

Sex hormones are important in the…

A

development of sexually distinct traits in humans

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

Although both present in everyone, ________ are viewed as the ‘male’ hormone and _______ as the ‘female’ hormone.

A

male - androgens

female - oestrogen

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

Primary characteristics of testosterone

A

causes maturation of male genitalia and sperm production

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Secondary characteristics of testosterone

A
facial + genital hair
voice change
shifts in hairline
muscle development
redistribution of body fat
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

In females, testosterone is produced in…

A

adrenal cortex and ovaries

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

There is _____ times more testosterone in males than in females.

A

seven

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

2 measures of testosterone

A

fluctuating levels

prenatal levels

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

Fluctuating levels of testosterone account for…

A

competition
aggression
dominance

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

Prenatal levels of testosterone account for…

A

physical features - e.g. facial structure, digit length, symmetry

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

Greatest difference in testosterone is between week __ and week __ of gestation

A

8 and 16

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

Foetal testosterone and brain lateralisation

A

Geschwind & Galaburda (1985):
Foetal testosterone facilitates growth in regions of the RIGHT hemisphere, and inhibits growth in the same regions of the LEFT hemisphere

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

Foetal testosterone and ‘male’ behaviour

A

Goy et al. (1988)

  • Pregnant rhesus monkeys injected with testosterone
  • Daughters born with external male genitalia and displayed more male behaviours in infancy e.g. rough play
  • Mothers injected with T last in pregnancy had daughters with male behaviour but NOT genitalia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Foetal testosterone and spatial ability

A

Williams et al. (1990)

  • Female rats injected after birth perform better than other females on maze learning and as well as male rats (exposed to fT throughout gestation)
  • peri-natal as well as pre-natal effects of testosterone
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Baron Cohen (2003) - E type brain

A

females are better at empathy; the drive to identify another’s emotions and to respond to them with the appropriate emotion

17
Q

Baron Cohen (2003) - S type brain

A

males are better at systemising; the drive to analyse, explore and construct a system

18
Q

Baron Cohen (2003) - characteristics of autism

A

high systemising

low empathy

19
Q

Autism is ___ times more prevalent in males

A

4

20
Q

Eye contact in 1 year olds

A

girls make significantly more eye contact than boys

demonstrates a link between prenatal hormone levels and social development

21
Q

RESEARCH: In 4 year olds, foetal testosterone correlated negatively with… and positively with…

A

negatively with quality of social relationships

positively with restricted interests (boys)

22
Q

RESEARCH: In 6-10 year olds, foetal testosterone correlates with…

A

score on the Childhood Autism Spectrum Test and the Child Autism Spectrum Quotient

23
Q

What is amniocentesis and what is it used for?

A

Removal of small amount of amniotic fluid from amniotic sac around developing foetus - used to measure foetal testosterone levels

24
Q

How do you measure the 2D:4D ratio?

A

Length of 2nd digit compared to 4th digit

25
Q

2D:4D ratio negatively correlates with…

A

prenatal testosterone levels

26
Q

Who has a higher 2D:4D ratio, males or females?

A

females

27
Q

2D:4D ratio - why?

A

The formation of the testes and the digits are commonly influenced by Homeobox gene

Therefore genetic effects of testes production of testosterone also affects digit growth

28
Q

2D:4D ratio is lower in…

A

professional footballers
players in 1st team squads
international players

29
Q

2D:4D and sporting ability - suggests that…

A

foetal testosterone promotes development of traits important in male physical display and competition

30
Q

2D:4D ratio also predicts:

A
financial trading
spatial ability
aggression
personality
musical ability
sexuality
skiing ability
sperm production
31
Q

RESEARCH: 2D:4D and autism

A

lower 2D:4D ratios in autistic children, as well as their immediate family members

Suggests we may be able to use 2D:4D ratio as an early indicator of likelihood of having offspring with autism