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Biological Psychology (PSYC2530) > The endocrine system: hormones and behaviour > Flashcards

The endocrine system: hormones and behaviour Flashcards

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1
Q

What are hormones and what do they affect?

A

naturally occurring chemicals in the body that affect mood, behaviour and development

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2
Q

Categories of hormones: amino acid derivatives

A

Involved in the synthesis and transmission of peptides, proteins and neurotransmitters

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3
Q

Categories of hormones: peptides + proteins

A

chains of amino acids, support growth processes

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4
Q

Categories of hormones: steroids

A

Role in sexual development

Can penetrate cell membranes to alter genetic traits, so effects can be long-lasting

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5
Q

How are hormones different to neurotransmitters?

A

hormones can operate over a greater distance than NTs

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6
Q

An example of amino acid derivative

A

thyroid gland hormone

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7
Q

How do steroids increase muscle mass?

A

by increasing testosterone

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8
Q

Hormones are produced and released by…

A

endocrine glands

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9
Q

What is the endocrine system?

A

Series of cells, glands and organs that produce hormones

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10
Q

Endocrine glands secrete…

A

hormones directly into bloodstream

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11
Q

Endocrine glands:

A 
pineal body
pituitary
hypothalamus
thyroid
adrenal
pancreas
ovaries/testes
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12
Q

Why are hormones important?

A

Evidence of hormonal activity can validate biological explanations of behaviour

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13
Q

Hormones and their roles

A 
oxytocin (social bonding)
cortison (stress)
melatonin (sleep regulation)
immunoglobulin A (immune system functioning)
testosterone (aggression, competition)
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14
Q

Who discovered hormones and how?

A 
Arnold Berthold (1849)
Studied castrated roosters. Unattached testes led to normal roosters. Testes must have released a biochemical substance that affects development + behaviour
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15
Q

How have technological advances made it easier to measure hormones in research?

A

Saliva (not blood) samples - no training required, inexpensive, non-invasive
Strict but robust protocols (standardised experimental procedures, Human Tissue Act)

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16
Q

Ethical issues surrounding tissue samples

A

Potential exposure to infectious diseases
Might reveal sensitive info e.g. infertility
Upsetting/embarrassing procedure
Disposing of samples - can’t keep indefinitely

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17
Q

Oxytocin: breast feeding

A

oxytocin causes the ‘let down reflex’ - makes milk available to baby

  1. Nipple stimulation from sucking baby
  2. Brain activity
  3. Nerve impulses to hypothalamus –> creates oxytocin
  4. Oxytocin causes mammary gland cells to contract
  5. This releases milk to baby
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18
Q

Oxytocin: childbirth

A

oxytocin causes uterine contraction
stimulates cervical dilation before birth
stimulated contractions of uterus during later stages of labour
injections of oxytocin often used to induce or accelerate labour

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19
Q

Oxytocin: post-partum rats

A

van Leengoed et al. (1987)
mothers with oxytocin antagonist showed no maternal behaviour or attachment to pups
suggests oxytocin plays a role in rapid onset on post-partum maternal behaviour

20
Q

Oxytocin: prairie voles

A

Bales + Carter (2003) gave male PVs either oxytocin or control injection
males exposed to oxytocin showed stronger partner preference, more social interaction and contact
suggests oxytocin plays a role in formation of pair bonds

21
Q

Oxytocin: trust

A

Kosfeld et al. (2005) double blind study
participants received oxytocin or placebo
compare trusting behaviour in both investors and trustees
participants interacted anonymously and with real money
Findings: investors in oxytocin group offered 17% more (but no effect on trustee behaviour)

22
Q

Oxytocin: trust - mechanism

A

possible increase in prosocial approach behaviour by inhibiting defensive behaviours

increased optimism of successful outcome

23
Q

Oxytocin: touch and giving to strangers

A

Morhenn et al. (2008)
Participants received Swedish massage or rested for 15 mins
Then played trust game
Massage group returned more as trustees, predicted by their oxytocin levels
Possible mechanism: massage primed Ps to respond to trust signal with increased oxytocin levels

24
Q

Oxytocin and cooperation

A

Oxytocin could be the proximate mechanism that leads to cooperation

Shows a biological basis to human cooperation

25
Q

Theodoridou et al. (2009): Oxytocin leads to increased ratings of…

A

attractiveness and trustworthiness of strangers

26
Q

Oxytocin: gaze and facial processing (Guastella et al., 2009)

A

Oxytocin led to an increased number of fixations and total gaze time toward the eye region

27
Q

Oxytocin and mind-reading

A

Oxytocin improved performance on the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test

28
Q

Oxytocin and hypnosis

A

Individuals less susceptible to hypnosis given oxytocin spray
Increased hypnotic responding levels
Due to increased rapport between individual and hypnotist?

29
Q

Sex hormones are produced by…

A

the gonads (ovaries and testes) and adrenal gland

30
Q

2 main types of sex hormones:

A

androgens (including testosterone and anabolic steroids)

oestrogen (including estradiol)

31
Q

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

A

androgens

oestrogen

32
Q

Sex hormones are important in the development of…

A

sexually distinct traits in humans

33
Q

Primary characteristics of testosterone

A

maturation of male genitalia and sperm production

34
Q

Secondary characteristics of testosterone

A 
facial and genital hair
voice change
shifts in hairline
muscle development
redistribution of body fat
35
Q

There is ____ times more testosterone in males than in females

A

seven

36
Q

In females, testosterone is produced in…

A

adrenal cortex and ovaries

37
Q

2 measures of testosterone and what they account for

A

FLUCTUATING - accounts for competition, aggression, dominance

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

38
Q

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

A

8 and 16

39
Q

Geschwind & Galaburda (1985): foetal testosterone and brain lateralisation

A

foetal testosterone FACILITATES growth in regions of the RIGHT hemisphere, and INHIBITS growth in the same regions of the LEFT hemisphere.

40
Q

Foetal testosterone and behaviours: Goy et al. (1988)

A

Pregnant rhesus monkeys injected with T

Daughters born with external male genitalia and displayed more ‘male’ behaviours in infancy, e.g. rough play

41
Q

Foetal testosterone and behaviours: spatial ability (Williams et al., 1990)

A

Female rats injected with T after birth perform better than other females on maze-learning
Perform as well as male rats who’ve been exposed to foetal T throughout gestation

42
Q

Foetal testosterone and behaviours: eye contact (Lutchmaya et al., 2002)

A

girls make significantly more eye contact than boys at 1 year old
Link between prenatal T levels and social development

43
Q

Measuring foetal testosterone levels: Amniocentesis

A

Removing a small amount of amniotic fluid from amniotic sac around developing foetus

Commonly used to test for chromosomal disorders + sex

44
Q

Measuring foetal testosterone levels: 2D:4D ratio

A

Length of 2nd digit compared to 4th digit

2D:4D ratio negatively correlated with prenatal T levels - lower in males than females

45
Q

Sporting ability and 2D:4D ratio (Manning & Taylor, 2001).
2D:4D ratio is lower in…
This suggests that…

A

professional footballers
players in 1st team squads
international players

foetal T promotes development of traits important in male physical display + competition

46
Q

2D:4D ratio predicts…

A 
financial trading
spatial ability
aggression
personality
musical ability
sexuality
skiing ability
sperm production
47
Q

2D:4D ratio and autism (Manning et al., 2001)

A

Lower 2D:4D ratio in autistic children, as well as their siblings and parents

A possible early indicator of autism?

Biological Psychology (PSYC2530) (4 decks)

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