Sex and the Developing Brain

Author:   Margaret McCarthy
Publisher:   Morgan & Claypool Publishers
ISBN:  

9781615040605


Pages:   110
Publication Date:   30 December 2010
Format:   Paperback
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
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Sex and the Developing Brain


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Overview

The brains of males and females, men and women, are different—that is a fact. What is debated is how different and how important those differences are. Sex differences in the brain are determined by genetics, hormones, and experience, which in humans includes culture, society, and parental and peer expectations. The importance of nonbiological variables to sex differences in humans is paramount, making it difficult if not impossible to parse out those contributions that are truly biological. The study of animals provides us the opportunity to understand the magnitude and scope of biologically based sex differences in the brain and understanding the cellular mechanisms provides us insight into novel sources of brain plasticity. Many sex differences are established during a developmental sensitive window by differences in the hormonal milieu of males versus females. The neonatal testis produces large amounts of testosterone, which gains access to the brain and is further metabolized into active androgens and estrogens, which modify brain development. Major parameters that are influenced by hormones include neurogenesis, cell death, neurochemical phenotype, axonal and dendritic growth, and synaptogenesis. Variance in these parameters results in sex differences in the size of particular brain regions, the projections between brain regions, and the number and type of synapses within particular brain regions. The cellular mechanisms are both region and endpoint specific and invoke many surprising systems such as prostaglandins, endocannabinoids, and cell death proteins. By understanding when, why, and how sex differences in the brain are established, we may also learn the source of strong gender biases in the relative risk and severity of numerous neurological diseases and disorders of mental health, including but not limited to autism, dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, and major depressive disorder.

Full Product Details

Author:   Margaret McCarthy
Publisher:   Morgan & Claypool Publishers
Imprint:   Morgan & Claypool Publishers
Dimensions:   Width: 18.70cm , Height: 0.50cm , Length: 23.50cm
Weight:   0.201kg
ISBN:  

9781615040605


ISBN 10:   1615040609
Pages:   110
Publication Date:   30 December 2010
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Table of Contents

Introduction Sex Determination versus Sex Differentiation Masculinization, Feminization, and Defeminization Steroid Hormones Are Potent Modulators of Brain Development Sex Differences in the Brain Are Established During a Developmental Sensitive Window Sex Differences in Physiology and Behavior Are Coordinated Knockouts of the Rule: Mice with Null Mutations of Steroid Receptors, Steroidogenic Enzymes, and Binding Proteins Steroids Influence Multiple Endpoints to Organize the Brain Cellular Mechanisms of Steroid-Mediated Organization of the Brain Winged Messengers: Lessons from Birds and Flies Sexual Differentiation of the Primate Brain Sexual Differentiation of the Human Brain Overcoming the Hegemony of Hormones: Genes Matter Too The Value of Understanding the Effect of Sex on the Developing Brain References

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