Shared Flashcard Set

Details

NEU PSYC3458 Fall 2012 Block 8
Flashcards for Psychobiology - Block 8 covering lecture/slide material
63
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
12/03/2012

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term

Fill in the blank: somatic cells of sexually reproducing organisms are (blank)

Definition

Diploid (they contain 2 copies of each chromosome)

Term

Fill in the blank: gamete cells (reproductive cells) are (blank)

Definition

Haploid (they only have one copy of each chromosome)

Term

When 2 haploid gamete cells combine, what do they form?

Definition

They form a zygote (which is now diploid)

Term

Communication from the glands of the body to the CNS is restricted by what?

Definition

The *highly hydrophobic* blood-brain barrier

Term

What challenge is presented by the high hydrophobicity of the blood-brain barrier?

Definition

Communication across the membrane must be mediated by hydrophobic compounds

Term

Communication from the CNS to the glands and organs of the body is not restricted by what?

Definition

The blood brain barrier

Term

Because CNS-to-glands/organs communication is not restricted by the blood-brain barrier, what does this allow?

Definition

This allows for communication using hydrophilic compounds such as peptide hormones (the amino acid chains are hydrophilic)

Term

Where do all peptides come from?

Definition

They come from larger proteins through the process of proteolysis. The adrenocorticotropic hormone, which mediates the body's stress response, is an example

Term

What function does proteolysis give to the body?

Definition

It provides multiple responses to stimuli (such as stress)

Term

What paradoxical reality may exist with some pain peptides such as ACTH?

Definition

Its parent protein may contain peptides that encode for analgesia from pain such as endorphins and enkephalins. Examples include beta-endorphin and Met-enkephalin

Term

Fill in the blank: the portal through which the brain and body interact is the (blank)

Definition

Pituitary gland

Term

Where does the synthesis of peptide hormones which are released into the blood supply through the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland occur?

Definition

In the neurons of the hypothalamus

Term

Where do the peptide hormones made by the neurons of the hypothalamus release into the blood stream?

 

Definition

The posterior lobe of the pituitary gland

Term

What does the anti-diuretic hormone vasopressin do for the body?

Definition

It helps in water retention

Term

What does the peptide hormone oxytocin do for the body?

Definition

It's responsible for uterine contractions during labor and milk letdown from breast ducts

Term

Does the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland synthesize and release peptide hormones?

 

Definition

Yes

Term

What controls the synthesis and release of peptide hormones from the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland?

Definition

The hypothalamus

Term

Is there a larger diversity of peptide hormone-producing cells in the anterior or posterior lobe of the pituitary gland?

Definition

The anterior lobe. Some examples include corticotrophs, gonadotrophs, growth hormone producing cells and thyroid hormone producing cells

Term

What do corticotrophs do in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland?

Definition

They synthesize pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and thus secrete andrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) into the blood supply

Term

What stimulates the release of corticotrophs from the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland?

Definition

Corticotropin releasing hormone cells in the hypothalamus

Term

Follicle stimulating hormone and lutenizing hormone are synthesized and secreted from what cells?

Definition

Gonadotrophs

Term

Release of follice stimulating hormone and lutenizing hormone from the gonadotrophs is stimulated by what?

Definition

Gonadotrophin releasing hormone cells in the hypothalamus

Term

What is the Hypothalamus-pituitary adrenal axis (HPA axis)?

Definition

It's a feedback loop incorporating corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), ACTH and adrenal cortical steroid (cortisol)

Term

What does the steroid hormone cortisol do?

Definition

It acts as a negative feedback response and inhibits CRH and ACTH release

Term

Choose the correct response: steroid hormones are (hydrophilic/hydrophobic) and thus pass (directly/indirectly) through the membrane of cells

Definition

Hydrophobic, directly

Term

What is the cause of physical differences between genders (i.e. what organizes the systems differently)?

Definition

Steroid hormones

Term

What permits the expression of sexual physiology (production of gametes) as their effect on reproductive structures during development?

Definition

Steroid hormones

Term

What is the building block for all steroid hormones?

Definition

Cholesterol

Term

What are progesterone and estradiol?

Definition

They are the steroid hormones responsible for female reproduction

Term

What is testosterone?

Definition

It serves an organizational and activational role in male reproduction

Term

What is cortisol?

Definition

It serves as the primary stress hormone in both genders

Term

Where would abundance of progesterone, testosterone, estradiol and their respective intermediaries be found: in men, women, or both?

Definition

Both genders

Term

Is it the presence or quantities of steroid hormones that determines gender?

Definition

The quantities

Term

How is steroid responsiveness determined?

Definition

By the presence/concentration of the specific receptor

Term

Where would steroid hormone receptors be found for estrogen?

Definition

In the breasts, vagina, uterus and associated brain regions

Term

Where would steroid hormone receptors be found for testosterone?

Definition

In the male genitalia, hair follicles, muscle groups and associated brain regions

Term

Does initial mammalian development follow a male for female program?

Definition

Female

Term

What is the Y chromosome's function in gender determination?

Definition

It contains the gene for a trophic factor, testes determination factor (TDF) which is very sensitive to testosterone levels. This signals the formation of testis instead of ovaries

Term

What gender would an indivual be if they had a Y chromosome (containing testes determination factor or TDF) but there was no testosterone during development?

Definition

The default female settings would prevail and would be expressed

Term

What effect (if any) does the castration of males have on gender?

Definition

It has feminizing effects. This is more easily observed if performed early in life during the "critical period"

Term

What happens with testicular feminizing syndrome (TFM)?

Definition

A person has the XY genotype but is unresponse to androgen because of a mutation to its receptor. These individuals develop as the default female phenotype both physically and behaviorally

Term

What is an interesting point regardining homosexuality within the animal kingdom?

Definition

There is no natural equivalent

Term

Are there no, some, a good number, many or lots of examples of animal homosexual behaviors?

Definition

There are many. Not lots but still quite the number

Term

Do homosexual tendencies in the animal kingdom tend to be exclusively homosexual or is it more bisexual in nature?

 

Definition

It tends to be more bisexual in nature

Term

What is one hypothesis that has been proposed with regards to the hypothalamus in homosexual individuals?

Definition

It is hypothesized that they have smaller hypothalami

Term

In mammals, most factors that determine whether sex behavior will lead to conception is what?

Definition

Under the control of females

Term

What is characterized by receptive female sexual activity?

Definition

It states that some females are passive and accept male sexual advances

Term

What does the selectivity theory of female sexual behavior state?

Definition

It states that females are discriminate and only accept sexual advances from dominant males

Term

What does the proceptivity theory of female sexual behavior state?

Definition

It states that females are aggresive and actively seek out sexual contact. This is often displayed in the presence of negative/punishing influences

Term

Shortly after a fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining, the female body begins to produce a hormone called what?

Definition

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) which is produced by the placenta

Term

What is the luteal phase defect and how commonly does it occur?

Definition

It's the leading cause of miscarriage and is estimated at about 75% of fetilizations. It occurs when the luteal phase is shorter than normal, progesterone levels during the luteal phase are lower than normal or both.

Term

What remedy is primarily used to prevent the luteal phase defect?

Definition

Progesterone injections or suppositories to artificially maintain high progesterone levels are used

Term

What is meant by the fact that sexual activity is often confined to the peri-ovulatory period?

Definition

There is no sexual activity during the menstrual cycle

Term

Estrus behavior is sexual behavior within certain times of the menstraul cycle. Are most animals or humans more likely to abide by this behavior?

Definition

Most animals

 

Term

Menstrual behavior is sexual behavior that occurs throughout the menstrual cycle which requires constant male attendance and increase sexual contact frequency. Are most animals or humans more likely to abide by this practice?

Definition

Humans

Term

Pick the right answer: peptides that regulate reproductive physiology (definitely, may or do not) influence sexual behavior

Definition

May

Term

Does lutenizing-hormone releasing hormone produce sexual behavior in males or females?

Definition

Females

Term

Do the peptide hormones oxytocin and vasopressin influence male or female sexual behavior?

Definition

They influence male sexual behavior and also impacts maternal behavior in females

Term

Mating consists of discrete stages, also known as what?

Definition

Fixed action patterns

Term

Ultimate fixed action potentials which are responsible for initiating casual events are involved in what parts of mating?

Definition

Attraction and arousal

Term

What does the proximate fixed action patterns (which have a direct cause and effect) regulate in mating?

Definition

Copulation

Term

In females, lordosis (the arching of the back during mating) is an example of what?

Definition

An ultimate fixed action pattern

Term

In males, erection, intromission and ejaculation are examples of what?

Definition

Proximate fixed action patterns

Supporting users have an ad free experience!