ED PSYCH 321 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Longitudinal Study, Extreme Weight Loss, Epiphysis

• School: UW-Madison
• Department: Educational Psychology
• Course: ED PSYCH 321
• Professor: Julie Johnson

Document Summary

Physical changes that occur as one passes from childhood to adulthood. 3 chief physical manifestations: rapid acceleration in growth, development of primary sex characteristics, development of secondary sex characteristics. Endocrine system receives instructions to decrease or increase circulating levels of hormones from central nervous system. When hormonal levels fall below set point, secretion of that hormone increases. When set point is met, secretion stops. Before birth, feedback loop (hpg axis) develops involving: Hypothalamus: controls pituitary gland: where there is concentration of gnrh neurons. Gonads: releases sex hormones (androgens and estrogens: males: testes, females: ovaries. Puberty begins when several different signals instruct brain to change set point: adrenarche: maturation of adrenal glands. What triggers puberty: age at which someone goes through puberty is largely inherited, some of triggers include multiple signals. Individual is physically mature and healthy enough to reproduce. Plays critical roles in regulation of hunger and appetite.