PSY310H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Alarm Clock, Gonadarche, Ejaculation
Document Summary
What is puberty? period of lifespan in which an individual becomes capable of sexual reproduction, it is a brain-neuroendocrine event. Hormone feedback loop: endocrine system receives instructions to increase or decrease circulating hormone levels from central nervous system (cns). Hormone levels have set-points determined by stage of development, environmental factors, etc. Feedback loops important for self-regulation and maintenance of set-points: every hormone has its own set point, and homeostasis helps to maintain these special levels of hormones, and this is achieved by the negative feedback loops. This plays an important role, because it tells pituitary gland to start producing growth hormone that triggers growth, this hormone is triggered when you are asleep and this has also implication on sleep cycle in puberty. Physical growth: primarily through growth hormone (gh) secretion by anterior pituitary gland (60-90 minutes after they sleep), also thyroxine. The effects of adrenanrche shows little bit later because it takes time.
