The Role of Hormones - Testosterone Flashcards
1
Q
What is testosterone?
A
A steroid hormone that stimulates the development of male secondary sexual characteristics
2
Q
Do females produce testosterone? How much compared to males?
A
Yes
10%
3
Q
What are the chromosomes of a male?
A
XY
4
Q
Which chromosome is the genetic information in a male?
A
Y
5
Q
What are gonads?
A
Sex glands
Testes in males
Ovaries in females
6
Q
Which gene on the Y chromosome controls whether gonads become ovaries or testes?
A
SRY gene
7
Q
What is testosterone associated with?
A
Masculinisation of the brain
Development of brain areas linked to spatial skills
Male-type behaviours such as competitiveness and aggressiveness
8
Q
What did Young (1966) find?
A
- Gave male hormones to female mice
- Irreversible change in usual gender-related behaviours
- Hormones like testosterone give a key role in determining behaviour
9
Q
What did Edwards (1968) find?
A
- Injections of testosterone in neonate female mice made them act like males with increased aggression when given testosterone as adults
- Control females given testosterone as adults did not react in this way, suggesting testosterone masculinities androgen - sensitive neural circuits underlying aggression in the brain
10
Q
What did Money and Ehrhardt (1972) find?
A
- Sample of girls who’s mothers took drugs containing testosterone during pregnancy
- Girls exhibited male-type behaviours, eg. playing energetic sports
- Girls had an absence of female-type behaviour, eg. playing with dolls
- Testosterone has a strong influence on gender behaviour
11
Q
What did Deady et al (2006) find?
A
- Measured testosterone levels and gave the BSRI to women between 25 and 30, asking additional questions about maternal personality.
- High levels of testosterone negatively correlated with low measures of maternal personality
- Females’ maternal drive is affected by testosterone
