PSYC 355 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Twin Study, Amenorrhoea, Twin

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 355
• Professor: Robert Ley

Document Summary

Puberty is a brain-neuroendocrine process occurring primarily in early adolescence that provides stimulation for the rapid physical change involved in this period of development. It also influences growth by producing growth hormones; it sends gonadotropins to the testes and ovaries and a thyroid-stimulating hormone to the thyroid gland. Recent research, however, suggests it may be involved in adolescent behaviour, particularly for boys: the gonads, or sex glands- these consist of the testes in males and ovaries in females. The sex glands are strongly involved in the appearance of secondary sex characteristics, such as facial hair in males and breast development in females. The general class of hormones called estrogen is dominant in females and androgens are dominant in males. More specifically testosterone in males and estradiol in females are key hormones in pubertal development. Follicle-stimulating hormone (fsh) and luteinizing hormone (lh) which are secreted by the pituitary gland are important aspects of the endocrine system.