Lecture 33: the neurobiology of sex, attachmennt, and emphaty

Question 1

***What are the principle effects of testosterone on sexual behaviour in males?

Answer 1

androgen - testosterone:

male sexual characteristics
sex drive
aggression/risk

Question 2

***What are the principle effects of oestrogens on sexual behaviour in females?

Answer 2

oestrogens - oestradiol:

female sexual characteristics
sex drive

Question 3

***What role does the dopaminergic system play in attraction and romantic love?

Answer 3

dopamine is released during sex
dopaminergic activity particularly linked to romantic love:
a. strong stimulus salience effects
b. rewarding effects of feeling
c. motivational aspects
d. psychophysical aspects

Question 4

***What are the major psychological effects of oxytocin and vasopressin?

Answer 4

oxytocin - uterine contractions during labour, milk let down

vasopressin - homoestatic efforts on water retention in kidney

effects on

1. attachment and trust
2. social cognition
3. fear and anxiety

Question 5

***What are mirror neurons, and what is interesting about their activity?

Answer 5

mirror neurons - mirror activity. it becomes active when the monkeys are doing something themselves or when they see other individual do movements

parts of our brain becomes activated when see other people do things. parts of the brain are active just by looking at other people