Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

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

The endocrine system: hormones and behaviour Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Psychology flashcards Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

What are hormones and what do they affect?

A

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

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

Categories of hormones: amino acid derivatives

A

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

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

Categories of hormones: peptides + proteins

A

chains of amino acids, support growth processes

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

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

How are hormones different to neurotransmitters?

A

hormones can operate over a greater distance than NTs

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

An example of amino acid derivative

A

thyroid gland hormone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How do steroids increase muscle mass?

A

by increasing testosterone

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

Hormones are produced and released by…

A

endocrine glands

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

What is the endocrine system?

A

Series of cells, glands and organs that produce hormones

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

Endocrine glands secrete…

A

hormones directly into bloodstream

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

Endocrine glands:

A 
pineal body
pituitary
hypothalamus
thyroid
adrenal
pancreas
ovaries/testes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Why are hormones important?

A

Evidence of hormonal activity can validate biological explanations of behaviour

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

Hormones and their roles

A 
oxytocin (social bonding)
cortison (stress)
melatonin (sleep regulation)
immunoglobulin A (immune system functioning)
testosterone (aggression, competition)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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)

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

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

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

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions