Endocrinology Flashcards
(25 cards)
What are pheromones?
Pheromones are chemical signals sent from one sex of a species that triggers a response from the other sex.
What effects do pheromones have?
Pheromones can induce behavior in another animal or cause physiological change.
How do human pheromones differ from animal pheromones?
Human pheromones do not elicit the same response from everyone, unlike animals.
What is a primer pheromone?
A primer pheromone affects the endocrine system over time, related to reproductive physiology or development, such as the menstrual cycle.
What is a modulator pheromone?
A modulator pheromone affects mood and emotion.
What is a signaler pheromone?
A signaler pheromone provides information about the individual, such as health status.
What is a releaser pheromone?
A releaser pheromone elicits an immediate, specific behavioral response, which is missing in humans.
Do pheromones control behavior?
Pheromones do not control behavior, but they can influence it.
What is Alpha Androstenol?
Alpha Androstenol is a pheromone found in pigs and humans, secreted into circulation by the adrenal gland through male sweat.
What was the effect of Androstadienone applied to women?
Applying Androstadienone to the upper lip of women resulted in improved mood and focus, thought to be associated with a heightened sexual response.
Verhaeghe, Gheysen & Enzlin (2013)
What is the endocrine system?
The endocrine system consists of a series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones.
What does cortisol do?
Cortisol increases carbohydrate metabolism and mediates stress responses.
What is the role of estradiol?
Estradiol is involved in uterine and other female tissue development and regulates sexual motivation and performance in both females and males.
What does testosterone promote?
Testosterone promotes sperm production and male secondary sexual characteristics, as well as sexual motivation and behavior.
What is oxytocin’s function?
Oxytocin stimulates milk letdown and uterine contractions during birth and promotes social bonding.
What does vasopressin do?
Vasopressin increases water reabsorption in the kidney and affects learning and memory.
How do hormones regulate behavior?
Hormones regulate behavior such as aggression, mating, and parenting by coordinating physiology and behavior.
What is the relationship between behavior and hormones?
Behavior can affect hormone concentrations, and hormones can influence behavior to ensure reproductive success.
What happens to zebra finch males when testes are removed?
When zebra finch males have their testes removed, there is a reduction in singing, which resumes when given testosterone or estradiol.
What was the focus of Fernald and Gunner’s study?
They investigated the effect of poverty/socioeconomic status on cognitive development and cortisol levels in young children.
What was the outcome of the Opotunidades program?
The program resulted in a significant reduction in cortisol levels in children participating compared to the control group.
N=554 (study group) vs N=762 (control group)
What is ‘mate guarding’?
‘Mate guarding’ refers to fending off potential mate poachers and preventing mates from defecting.
Buss, 2002
What behavioral changes occur during ovulation?
During ovulation, there is an increase in flirting behavior and interest in social gatherings.
Haselton & Gangestad, 2006
How does exposure to ovulating females affect other females?
Exposure to ovulating females increases sexual desire in other females towards their own mates.
Krems et al, 2016
