Lecture Notes on Sex Differences, Control of Sexual Behavior, Drugs and Addiction, Stimulants and Alcohol, Pain and Pain Suppression, Sleep and Circadian Rhythms, Stress and Depression

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes, covering topics on sex differences, neurobiology, hormones, and puberty.

Neurotransmitter

A chemical messenger that transfers signals from one neuron to the next, conducting local action at a synapse. Its effects can be activation or inhibition, depending on the transmitter/receptor combination.

Hormone

A substance released into and circulating in the bloodstream, eventually binding to specified receptors.

EPSP

Excitatory Post Synaptic Potential

IPSP

Inhibitory Post Synaptic Potential

Haploid cells

Reproductive cells with one set of chromosomes.

Diploid cells

Cells with two sets of matching chromosomes.

Gamete

Reproductive cell of an animal or plant.

Gonad

The part of the reproductive system that produces and releases eggs (ovary) or sperm (testicle/testis).

Androgen

A category of hormones referred to by the Greek term 'man making,' e.g., testosterone.

Female Gamete

Egg cells, every cell will have an X chromosome.

SRY gene

The Testis-Determining Factor, a crucial gene on the Y chromosome that determines sex. It causes the foetal gonad to turn into a testis.

Anti-Mullerian Hormone

A hormone produced by the early testis responsible for defeminising, i.e., getting rid of the Mullerian system.

DHT

Dihydrotestosterone, a hormone made by the testes required to turn external anatomy into male-specific external anatomy.

Organizational hormone effect

The effect of the hormone remains even after the hormone has been removed/is absent post-change. Often occurs during a sensitive period (e.g., embryonic development), and is permanent.

Activation hormone effect

The effect of the hormone is reversible, depending on the presence or absence of the hormone.

ER - Developmental timing mechanism

The biological processes that regulate when puberty begins and is initiated/influenced by a range of factors – environmental, social and biological factors – the DTM ensures that puberty onset occurs in primal time according to these species-specific factors

GnRH neurons

Gonadotropin releasing hormone neurons-. A group of Neurons located in the brain hypothalamus which trigger a cascade that releases sex hormones such as testosterone, oestradiol, progesterone, GnRH e.t.c, are largely inactive during childhood but become activated during puberty onset

GABAergic neurons

A group of neurons in the CNS that produce and use the neurotransmitter GABA

Gonadotropins

Any of a group of hormones secreted by the pituitary which stimulate the activity of the gonads. i.e. hormones which go to the gonads

GNRH

Gonadotropin releasing hormone – hormones which trigger the release of gonadotropins

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

A type of gonadotropin that causes follicles to ripen in females and is involved in sperm production in males.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

A type of gonadotropin that induces ovulation and formation of the corpus luteum in females and stimulates testosterone production in males.