Neuroscience Lecture – Prenatal Testosterone, Autism, and Schizophrenia

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts from the lecture on prenatal testosterone's influence on autism, the neurobiology of schizophrenia, and various therapeutic approaches.

Prenatal testosterone

Hormones produced during pregnancy that influence brain development and may be linked to traits such as autism.

Autism

A developmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior.

Mirror neurons

Neurons that fire both when an individual performs an action and when they observe the same action being performed by someone else, linked to social cognition.

SRY gene

Gene located on the Y chromosome that triggers the development of male characteristics in human embryos.

Extreme Male Brain Hypothesis

Theory proposed by Simon Baron-Cohen which suggests that autism reflects an extreme manifestation of typical male cognitive traits, such as systematizing.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

A hormonal disorder in women that can lead to increased androgen levels and is associated with elevated autism risk in offspring.

Positive symptoms (of schizophrenia)

Symptoms that signify an excess or distortion of normal functions, including hallucinations and delusions.

Negative symptoms (of schizophrenia)

Symptoms that indicate a decrease or absence in normal functions, such as lack of emotional expression and social withdrawal.

Disorganized (cognitive) symptoms

Erratic behaviors that include disorganized speech and difficulty in maintaining a coherent conversation.

Epidemiology

The study of how often diseases occur in different groups of people and why.

Prodromal symptoms

Early signs and symptoms that precede the onset of a disease, often subtle and challenging to detect.

Gene-environment interaction

The complex interplay between genetic predispositions and environmental factors that can influence the risk of developing disorders like schizophrenia.

Neurodiversity

The concept that neurological differences, such as autism, are just among the many natural variations of the human brain.

Causality

The relationship between cause and effect; in neuroscience, establishing causality is complex and often requires extensive research.

Fetal testosterone levels

Levels of testosterone during fetal development that have been correlated with traits related to autism.

Auditory hallucinations

A common symptom of schizophrenia where individuals hear sounds or voices that are not present.

Treatment compliance

A patient’s adherence to prescribed medication or therapeutic regimens.

Epigenetics

The study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself.

Social cognition

The processes by which people understand and interpret social interactions, often impaired in individuals with autism.

Hallucinations

Sensory experiences that appear real but are created by the mind, commonly associated with various mental disorders.

Dopamine theory

A theory suggesting that schizophrenia is linked to abnormal levels of dopamine in the brain.

Behavioral therapies

Psychological treatment methods that focus on changing harmful behaviors through reinforcement.

Cognitive biases

Systematic patterns of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment, affecting beliefs and behaviors.

Age-related prognosis

The differences in outcomes associated with the age of onset of symptoms for disorders like schizophrenia.