86 Questions
Which hormones are involved in the control of female reproductive cycles?
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)
Which of the following is a characteristic of the estrous cycle?
Sexual activity is limited to the estrous phase
How do menstrual cycles and estrous cycles differ in terms of sexual behavior?
Menstrual cycles exhibit sexual activity throughout the cycle, while estrous cycles are limited to the estrous phase
Which hormone signaling alteration can lead to masculinization of the brain in rodents?
Castration at birth
What can injections of female sex hormones in non-castrated male rats result in?
Partial masculinization of the brain
What is the condition called when females have excess androgen signaling from adrenal glands?
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)
Which nucleus in the hypothalamus plays an essential role in female sexual behavior?
Ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus (VMH)
Which of the following is a consequence of altering hormone signaling in rodents immediately after birth?
Development of female-typical behaviors in castrated male rodents
What is the effect of injecting female sex hormones in non-castrated male rats?
Relatively small behavioral consequences
Excess androgen signaling from adrenal glands in females can cause masculinization of which of the following?
Body or brain or both
What is the condition called when females have abnormally large amounts of androgen signaling from adrenal glands?
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Which nucleus in the hypothalamus plays an essential role in female sexual behavior?
Ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus (VMH)
What is the effect of lesioning the mPOA in female rats?
Does not affect sexual behavior, but causes them to ignore their offspring
Which neural pathways are important for male sexual behavior?
mPOA → PAG → nPGi → motor neurons in spinal cord
What is the effect of electrical stimulation of VMH in rodents?
Facilitates female sexual behavior
What is the effect of electrical stimulation of mPOA in rodents?
Elicits male copulatory behavior
Which area in the mPOA is larger in males than in females?
Sexually dimorphic nucleus (SDN)
Which part of the brain plays a crucial role in the control of puberty?
Hypothalamus
What are the two ovarian hormones that control both menstrual and estrous cycles?
Estradiol and progesterone
Which type of reproductive cycle is characterized by menstruation, concealed ovulation, and the absence of a mating season?
Menstrual cycle
Which type of reproductive cycle is characterized by reabsorption of the endometrium and clear outward signs of ovulation and fertility?
Estrous cycle
Which type of cycle is associated with sexual activity throughout the cycle?
Menstrual cycle
Which type of cycle is associated with sexual activity only during the estrous phase?
Estrous cycle
How do menstrual cycles and estrous cycles differ in terms of sexual behavior?
Menstrual cycles are associated with small fluctuations in sexual behavior, while estrous cycles exhibit clear outward signs of ovulation and fertility
Which effects of hormones on the body are largely over by birth?
Organizational effects on sex organs
Which hormone signaling alteration can lead to masculinization of the brain in rodents?
Androgen signaling
Do menstrual cycles have significant fluctuations in sexual behavior following the cycle?
No
What is the process by which experiences change our nervous system and behavior referred to as?
Neuronal plasticity
What are the changes in neurons' excitability and the strength of connections known as?
Neuronal plasticity
What is the process of accessing memories known as?
Memory retrieval
What do we refer to as memory traces or memory engrams?
Memories
What is the cellular basis of long-term memory?
Neuronal plasticity
What is the ability of the nervous system to change and adapt in response to experiences?
Neuronal plasticity
What refers to the process by which experiences change our nervous system and behavior?
Learning
What determines the current flow through the NMDA channel?
Glutamate and membrane voltage
Which ions enter a cell through unblocked NMDA receptors?
Sodium and calcium ions
What enzyme is activated by calcium influx through NMDA receptors and plays a role in establishing long-term potentiation?
CaMKII
What is the cellular basis of learning according to Donald Hebb's hypothesis?
Strengthening of synaptic connections that are active when the postsynaptic neuron fires an action potential
What is the role of nitric oxide (NO) in synaptic plasticity?
Acts as a retrograde messenger to promote LTP
Which type of learning involves learning to recognize stimuli as distinct entities?
Perceptual learning
What type of learning involves learning to make skilled, choreographed movements?
Motor learning
What is the effect of electrical stimulation of VMH in rodents?
Induces sexual behavior
What type of learning involves learning relationships among individual stimuli?
Relational learning
What is neuronal plasticity typically measured through?
Intrinsic excitability and synaptic strength
What determines intrinsic excitability of a neuron?
Number and type of ion channels expressed
What is referred to as changes in synaptic connection strength between two neurons?
Synaptic plasticity
Which invertebrate sea creature exhibits habituation and sensitization?
Aplysia
What does habituation of Aplysia's gill withdrawal reflex involve?
Changes in sensory neuron excitability and synaptic connection strength
What changes occur in sensory neuron excitability during habituation in Aplysia?
Fewer action potentials occurring upon touch
What remains unchanged during habituation of Aplysia's gill withdrawal reflex?
Motor neuron excitability
What is long-term potentiation (LTP)?
A long-term increase in the strength of the connection between two neurons, often induced by high-frequency stimulation
What is the role of NMDA receptors in synaptic strength?
They act as coincidence detectors, with their role in detecting depolarization and calcium influx determining whether a synapse weakens or strengthens
What is long-term depression (LTD)?
A long-term decrease in the strength of the connection between two neurons, often induced by persistent low-frequency stimulation
What must coincide for long-term potentiation (LTP) to occur?
The release of neurotransmitter with a substantial depolarization of the postsynaptic cell
What drives presynaptic modifications in long-term potentiation (LTP)?
Retrograde signaling of nitric oxide
What is the main factor determining synaptic strength in relation to NMDA receptors?
The amount of calcium influx
What determines whether a synapse weakens or strengthens in relation to NMDA receptors?
The amount of calcium influx
What do we refer to as the process by which experiences change our nervous system and behavior?
Neuronal plasticity
What is the cellular basis of long-term memory?
Neuronal plasticity
What is the process of accessing memories known as?
Memory retrieval
What is the condition called when there is no physical change in the brain but long-term memory is retained?
Neuronal plasticity
What is the term for the changes in neurons' excitability and the strength of connections?
Synaptic plasticity
What refers to the ability of the nervous system to change and adapt in response to experiences?
Neuronal plasticity
What is the term for the ability of the nervous system to change and adapt in response to experiences?
Neuronal plasticity
What is typically used to directly measure cell excitability and synaptic strength in the brain?
Brain slice recordings
What is the term for the increased sensitivity to a stimulus exhibited by Aplysia, an invertebrate sea slug?
Sensitization
What remains unchanged during habituation of Aplysia's gill withdrawal reflex?
Motor neuron excitability
What is the main factor determining intrinsic excitability of a neuron?
Number and type of ion channels expressed
What is the term for the changes in synaptic connection strength between two neurons?
Synaptic plasticity
What is involved in synaptic plasticity and can include pre- and postsynaptic changes?
Neuronal plasticity
What changes during habituation of Aplysia's gill withdrawal reflex include fewer presynaptic voltage-gated calcium channels?
Presynaptic vesicle docking
What is long-term potentiation (LTP)?
A long-term increase in the strength of the connection between two neurons, often induced by high-frequency stimulation
What is the role of NMDA receptors in synaptic strength?
They act as coincidence detectors, with the amount of calcium influx determining whether a synapse weakens or strengthens
What drives presynaptic modifications in long-term potentiation (LTP)?
Retrograde signaling of nitric oxide
What is the condition for long-term potentiation (LTP) to occur?
The release of neurotransmitter must coincide with a substantial depolarization of the postsynaptic cell
What is long-term depression (LTD)?
A long-term decrease in the strength of the connection between two neurons, often induced by persistent low-frequency stimulation
What determines synaptic strength in relation to NMDA receptors?
The amount of calcium influx through NMDA receptors
What ions will enter a cell through unblocked NMDA receptors?
Sodium and calcium ions
What is the role of nitric oxide (NO) in synaptic plasticity?
Acts as a retrograde messenger to promote LTP
What is the main factor determining synaptic strength in relation to NMDA receptors?
Glutamate binding and membrane voltage
What is the cellular basis of learning according to Donald Hebb's hypothesis?
Strengthening of synaptic connections that are active when the postsynaptic neuron fires an action potential
What enzyme is activated by calcium influx through NMDA receptors and plays a role in establishing long-term potentiation?
CaMKII
What is the effect of electrical stimulation of VMH in rodents?
Induces mating behavior
What type of learning involves learning relationships among individual stimuli?
Relational learning
What is the effect of electrical stimulation of mPOA in rodents?
Induces maternal behavior
What refers to the process by which experiences change our nervous system and behavior?
Synaptic plasticity
Study Notes
Synaptic Plasticity and Neuronal Function
- Neurons can still have action potential if a part of the dendritic spine cell is cut, surviving and maintaining essential functions.
- Neurons can adapt and evolve through experiences, with synapses becoming stronger or weaker based on these experiences.
- Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a long-term increase in the strength of the connection between two neurons, often induced by high-frequency stimulation.
- LTP is often initiated on the postsynaptic side, but retrograde signaling of nitric oxide can drive presynaptic modifications.
- Long-term depression (LTD) is a long-term decrease in the strength of the connection between two neurons, often induced by persistent low-frequency stimulation.
- LTD is often initiated on the postsynaptic side, but retrograde endocannabinoid signaling can drive presynaptic modifications.
- Both LTP and LTD are a function of the number of times the synapse was activated as well as whether the postsynaptic neuron fired at those precise times.
- The release of neurotransmitter must coincide with a substantial depolarization of the postsynaptic cell for LTP to occur.
- NMDA receptors play a significant role in learning and memory, as they are located in almost every glutamatergic synapse in the brain and act as coincidence detectors.
- The NMDA receptor is sensitive to the presence of glutamate and depolarization, with the amount of calcium influx determining synaptic strength.
- NMDA receptors are a key signal for synaptic strength, with the amount of calcium influx determining whether a synapse weakens or strengthens.
- NMDA receptors act as a coincidence detector, and their role in detecting depolarization and calcium influx determines whether a synapse weakens or strengthens.
Synaptic Plasticity and Neuronal Function
- Neurons can still have action potential if a part of the dendritic spine cell is cut, surviving and maintaining essential functions.
- Neurons can adapt and evolve through experiences, with synapses becoming stronger or weaker based on these experiences.
- Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a long-term increase in the strength of the connection between two neurons, often induced by high-frequency stimulation.
- LTP is often initiated on the postsynaptic side, but retrograde signaling of nitric oxide can drive presynaptic modifications.
- Long-term depression (LTD) is a long-term decrease in the strength of the connection between two neurons, often induced by persistent low-frequency stimulation.
- LTD is often initiated on the postsynaptic side, but retrograde endocannabinoid signaling can drive presynaptic modifications.
- Both LTP and LTD are a function of the number of times the synapse was activated as well as whether the postsynaptic neuron fired at those precise times.
- The release of neurotransmitter must coincide with a substantial depolarization of the postsynaptic cell for LTP to occur.
- NMDA receptors play a significant role in learning and memory, as they are located in almost every glutamatergic synapse in the brain and act as coincidence detectors.
- The NMDA receptor is sensitive to the presence of glutamate and depolarization, with the amount of calcium influx determining synaptic strength.
- NMDA receptors are a key signal for synaptic strength, with the amount of calcium influx determining whether a synapse weakens or strengthens.
- NMDA receptors act as a coincidence detector, and their role in detecting depolarization and calcium influx determines whether a synapse weakens or strengthens.
Test your knowledge on the hormonal control of puberty and the female reproductive cycles in this quiz. Explore topics such as the hypothalamus, kisspeptin, pituitary, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and the menstrual and estrous cycles.
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