PSYB64H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Sexually Dimorphic Nucleus, Sexual Dimorphism, Inah 3
Document Summary
Week 7 june 29 th , 2015. Up to 6 weeks of age, male and female fetuses are identical. Turner syndrome (xo): normal female external genitalia but ovaries develop abnormally: normal intelligence, deficits in spatial relationships and memory, smaller stature, and neck folding, approximately 1 in 2500 live births. Xyy: subtle physical and behavioral correlates, controversial association with antisocial behavior and aggression, approximately 1 out of 1000 male births. Cholesterol is required for the synthesis of human sex hormones: can convert cholesterol to progesterone to testosterone, aromatase turns testosterone into estradiol. Females less than 100 nanograms/dl of blood: estrogen levels: Males less than 50 picograms/ml of blood. Sex hormones and female behavior: sexual interests in human females. Testosterone has greatest impact on women"s sexuality: estrogens and cognition. Best scores on spatial abilities tests when testosterone levels are high and when estrogen levels are low. Best scores on verbal abilities tests and manual dexterity tests when estrogen levels are high.
