PSC 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Sexually Dimorphic Nucleus, Intersex
Document Summary
Psc 101 lecture 9 sex differences. Development of behavior is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Captive vervet monkeys were given human toys to play with. No prior exposure, presumably could not learn from parents. When given a choice between toys with wheels and plush toys, male vervet monkeys and boys preferred wheeled toys. Female vervet monkeys and girls played with both toys. Boys and girls engage in rough and tumble play. Boys are more likely to spend more time in rough and tumble play. Parents can influence how their children play. The environment can also affect hormones and gene expression. Pregnant female rhesus monkeys were given testosterone and female offspring developed as pseudohermaphrodites (external genitalia was masculinized ) and researchers studied their play behavior. Play behavior of pseudohermaphrodites was more like males than females (not an exact match) Indicates that testosterone acts during development to organize the brain to function more male-like.
