Sex Differences in Brain and Behavior

Sexual Dimorphism

Distinct forms of a structure or behavior

Sex Differences

Score variations between males and females with overlap

Gonadotropin

Hormones regulating gonads and reproductive functions

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

Hormone influencing sex hormone production

Medial Preoptic Area

Hypothalamic region for male sexual behavior

Aromatization Hypothesis

Conversion of sex steroids, influencing brain development

Androgen

Male sex hormone acting through Androgen Receptors

Estradiol

Estrogen hormone acting through Estrogen Receptors

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)

Androgen hormone acting through Androgen Receptors

Sexually Dimorphic Nucleus

Brain region showing sex-based structural differences

Maternal Estradiol

Estradiol during pregnancy affecting brain masculinization

Neonatal Gonadectomy

Removal of gonads in newborns affecting sexual behavior

Defeminization

Process reducing female traits in brain development

Masculinization

Process enhancing male traits in brain development

Demasculinization

Process reducing male traits in brain development

Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome

Condition with unresponsive Androgen Receptors in XY individuals

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Disorder causing excessive adrenal androgen release

Sex Reassignment

Changing gender identity due to medical or personal reasons

Thrusts

Male sexual behavior involving thrusting movements

Lordosis

Female sexual behavior involving arching of the back

Ablatio Penis

Penis loss leading to gender reassignment in exceptional cases

Gorski et al. (1978)

Research on sexually dimorphic brain regions

McCarthy (2015)

Study on cellular sex differences in the brain

RJ Nelson (2005)

Research on structural and behavioral sex differences in humans