PS276 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: 6 Years, Impulsivity, Melatonin
Document Summary
3 chief physical manifestations of puberty: rapid acceleration in growth, development of primary sex characteristics, developnent of secondary sex characteristics and growth of pubic, facial, and body hair. Produces, circulates, regulates levels of hormones in the body which carry instructions by activating gonadotropin-releasing hormone gnrh neurons. Keeps body in homeostasis and controlled by hpg axis. Hypothalamus controls pituitary gland and is where gnrh neurons are concentrated. Maturation of adrenal glands is called adrenarche which contributes to development of body odour signaling beginning of sexual maturation. Age at which someone goes through puberty is encoded in genes which reawaken hpg axis but signals also include number of sexually mature mating partners in environment, sufficient nutritional resources, and whether individual is physically mature/healthy enough to reproduce. Rising leptin protein most important signal in females which instruct hypothalamus to stop inhibiting. Hormones organize brain in ways that may be manifested much later on (organizational role)
