Deck 7: The Biology of Sex and Gender

Question 1

What role does the medial amygdala play in sexual behavior?

A)It is active while rats copulate.
B)If stimulated,dopamine is released in the MPOA,which is known to be important in sexual behavior.
C)Its role is to respond to sexually exciting stimuli,such as potential partners.
D)All of the above

Answer 1

All of the above

Question 2

Females of most species are willing to engage in sex only during their ___ period,whereas female humans and some primates ___.

A)estrus,are not willing to engage in sex except outside their estrus cycle
B)menstrual,are willing to engage in sex anytime during their estrus cycle
C)estrus,are willing to engage in sex anytime during their reproductive cycle
D)menstrual,are only likely to engage in sex during their estrus cycle

Answer 2

estrus,are willing to engage in sex anytime during their reproductive cycle

Question 3

Males have a sexual ___ period while females do not.

A)resolution
B)post orgasmic
C)pheromone sensitive
D)refractory

Answer 3

refractory

Question 4

Sex is a(n)___ behavior.

A)unlearned
B)motivated
C)learned
D)innate

Question 5

Which brain area is most important for sexual responses of both sexes?

A)Central amygdala
B)ventromedial hypothalamus
C)Sexually dimorphic nucleus
D)Medial preoptic area

Question 6

The level of sexual activity in male rats is related to the size of their ___,which itself is a function of ___.

A)MPOA,prenatal exposure to stress hormones
B)ventromedial hypothalamus,prenatal exposure to testosterone
C)SDN,prenatal exposure to estrogen
D)SDN,prenatal exposure to testosterone

Question 7

Which brain area is not involved in male sexual behavior?

A)Ventromedial hypothalamus
B)Medial preoptic area
C)Sexually dimorphic nucleus
D)Paraventricular nucleus

Question 8

What evidence suggests that testosterone plays a role in female sexual behavior?

A)Sexual behavior of women decreases at menopause when testosterone levels decline.
B)Testosterone levels peak at mid-cycle when women are more likely to initiate sexual activity.
C)Testosterone treatment given to women with their ovaries removed increases sexual arousal and behavior.
D)All of the above

Question 9

Why does most of what we know about sexual behavior come from studies of other species like rats?

A)Research on sexual behavior in humans has been considered "off limits" for years and hence hard to get funded.
B)Animals like rats copulate many more times than humans,up to 20 times a day!
C)Researchers can alter the hormonal control of animals,which would be unethical in humans.
D)All of the above

Question 10

The four phases of sexual arousal in order are:

A)Plateau,excitement,orgasm,refractory
B)Excitement,plateau,orgasm,refractory
C)Excitement,plateau,orgasm,resolution
D)Excitement,orgasm,resolution,refractory

Question 11

Anti-androgen drugs are ___ in treating deviant sexual behavior.

A)minimally effective
B)highly effective
C)inconsistent and unpredictable
D)are not as popular as surgical castration,because they don't work very well

Question 12

Stimulation of the ___ results in release of dopamine in the ___.

A)medial preoptic area,medial amygdala
B)medial amygdala,medial preoptic area
C)sexually dimorphic nucleus,medial amygdala
D)medial amygdala,sexually dimorphic nucleus

Question 13

The ___ effect involves the male's refractory period,in a way that is similar to sensory-specific satiety.

A)Masters
B)Johnson
C)Coolidge
D)Kinsey

Question 14

The brain area that is specifically important for female sexual behavior is the:

A)Medial amygdala
B)Medial preoptic area
C)Sexually dimorphic nucleus
D)Ventromedial hypothalamus

Question 15

Which of the following areas plays a role in integrating sensory and hormonal information,as well as coordinating physiological responses involved in sexual behavior?

A)Ventromedial hypothalamus
B)Medial preoptic area
C)Sexually dimorphic nucleus
D)Medial amygdala

Question 16

Which of the following statements supports a relationship between the menstrual cycle and female sexual activity?

A)Couples are able and likely to have intercourse at any time.
B)Couples exhibit a decrease in sexual activity during the middle of their menstrual cycle.
C)Women are more likely to initiate sex during the middle of their reproductive cycle.
D)Women on birth control pills exhibit a peak in sexual activity during the middle of the menstrual cycle.

Question 17

Which statement best describes the effects of castration on sexual behavior in humans?

A)We are more affected by castration than other animals.
B)Males eventually lose the ability to copulate;females do not.
C)The ability of males to have erections is maintained,but sex drive is low;little if any changes occur in the females.
D)Sexual behavior may decline but does not disappear completely because the adrenals secrete enough hormones to maintain sexual desire.

Question 18

The ___ is 5 times larger in male rats than in females.

A)medial amygdala
B)medial preoptic area
C)sexually dimorphic nucleus
D)ventromedial hypothalamus

Question 19

All of the following statements about testosterone are true except:

A)The relationship between sexual activity and testosterone levels could be explained by the fact that sexual activity itself increases testosterone levels.
B)Males with low testosterone levels can be as sexually active as other males,indicating that minimal testosterone is required for typical sexual behavior.
C)Castration of aggressive human prisoners is a common procedure that is effective in about 50% of cases.
D)The effect of castration on sexual behavior takes longer in humans than in rats,although there is some variability.

Question 20

Name two researchers who pioneered human sexual research.

A)Masters and Coolidge
B)Masters and Johnson
C)Johnson and Johnson
D)Johnson and Coolidge

Question 21

When your dog "knows" that the poodle down the street is "in heat," most of the pheromones are detected by the ___ but some are detected by ___.

A)vomeronasal organ,gustatory receptors
B)olfactory receptors,vomeronasal organ
C)vomeronasal organ,olfactory receptors
D)vomeronasal organ,MPOA

Question 22

Meadow voles:

A)Are not monogamous
B)Show preference for a single partner if the AVPR1A gene is blocked
C)Release vasopressin but not oxytocin
D)Release oxytocin but not vasopressin

Question 23

Humans possess about ___ genes for olfactory receptors but only about ___ of these appear to be functional.

A)1,000,½
B)500-600,¼ to ½
C)500-750,¼ to ¾
D)1,000-2,000,¼ to ½

Question 24

Research suggests that exposure to a chemical found in human underarm sweat will:

A)Desynchronize the length of menstrual cycles
B)Result in increased sexual activity in males and females
C)Increase the social interaction of female subjects with men
D)Suppress testosterone secretion in males

Question 25

Research shows that men find the scent of women's T-shirts more attractive:

A)At the end of the menstrual cycle
B)At the beginning of the menstrual cycle
C)In the middle of the menstrual cycle
D)Throughout the menstrual cycle

Question 26

Humans can recognize approximately ___ odors.

A)1,000
B)100,000
C)10,000
D)5,000

Question 27

The bonding process in prairie voles involves all of the following except:

A)Activation of the AVPR1A gene
B)Release of oxytocin
C)The presence of vasopressin
D)Release of serotonin during mating

Question 28

Earlier reports found that underarm secretions of both sexes have been shown to alter menstrual cycles,probably due to effects on a woman's ___,but they have been questioned on methodological grounds.

A)pheromones
B)menstrual hormones
C)luteinizing hormone
D)oxytocin levels

Question 29

The neurotransmitter ___ is released in the male ___ in the presence of a female;this mirrors behavior during the Coolidge effect.

A)serotonin,medial preoptic area
B)dopamine,sexually dimorphic nucleus
C)dopamine,nucleus accumbens
D)naloxone,nucleus accumbens

Question 30

The vomeronasal organ:

A)Has evolved to a diminished size in humans
B)May not be required for detecting pheromones
C)Sends signals to the hypothalamus and amygdala
D)All of the above

Question 31

A woman would be inclined to find a male with a different ___ as more attractive because it would signal genetic ___.

A)MHC,dissimilarity
B)MPC,similarity
C)MHC,similarity
D)MPC,dissimilarity

Question 32

Which of the following is true about the role of the autonomic nervous system in sexual behavior in males?

A)Small amounts of dopamine stimulate D₂ receptors to activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
B)Serotonin effects on the autonomic nervous system are responsible for the shift from sympathetic to parasympathetic activity.
C)Stimulation of D₁ receptors activates the parasympathetic nervous system,which increases motivation and erection.
D)Serotonin stimulates the sympathetic nervous system,causing ejaculation.

Question 33

Women rated the body odor of men as being more attractive when the men differed from them in terms of ___.

A)major histocompatibility complex
B)pheromone levels
C)dopamine levels
D)All of the above

Question 34

Humans have ___ odor receptor genes than rats and mice.

A)four times as many
B)fewer
C)the same number of
D)twice as many

Question 35

Research suggests that exposure to pheromones from women's T-shirts will be rated most attractive by males:

A)During ovulation in women not taking birth control pills
B)In mid-cycle in women on birth control pills
C)During ovulation in both women on and off birth control pills
D)None of the above

Question 36

Which of the following statements is true about pheromones and human behavior?

A)Pheromones only affect sexual behavior.
B)Pheromones affect behavior in animals but not humans.
C)Pheromones operate in fear-provoking situations.
D)Pheromones are produced when people engage in strenuous physical activity.

Question 37

All of the following are true about the olfactory system except:

A)It responds to airborne materials that dissolve in the nasal mucosa.
B)Odorants stimulate receptors that are beneath the nasal mucosa.
C)The olfactory nerves travel to the olfactory cortex found in the temporal lobe.
D)Olfactory stimuli act on receptors on axons found in the olfactory nerve.

Question 38

A ___ is a chemical that is released by one animal that affects the physiology and or behavior of another member of the same species.

A)neurotransmitter
B)neurochemical
C)hormone
D)pheromone

Question 39

The amygdala is involved in:

A)Sexual behavior in both males and females
B)Aggression
C)Emotions
D)All of the above

Question 40

Which type of drug does not interfere with sexual activity?

A)Serotonin reuptake blockers
B)Anti-anxiety drugs
C)Dopamine agonists
D)Antidepressants

Question 41

The best way to identify a person as male or female is by the person's:

A)Chromosomes
B)Gender
C)Gender role
D)None of the above because the topic is too complex.

Question 42

An important difference between the organizing and activating effects of hormones is that organizing effects:

A)Are temporary
B)Are usually but not always reversible
C)Occur only after puberty
D)Mainly occur prenatally or shortly after birth

Question 43

What causes the undifferentiated gonads to become the testes?

A)Mullerian-determining factor
B)Ovarian-inhibiting substance
C)The SRY gene/protein
D)An XX-fertilized ovum

Question 44

A male results when the father's sperm contributes a(n)___ chromosome to the mother's ___ chromosome.

A)X,X
B)Y,X
C)Y,Y
D)O,X

Question 45

Which hormone promotes the development of the external male genitalia?

A)Estrogen
B)Dihydrotestosterone
C)Progesterone
D)Testosterone

Question 46

The Mullerian ducts are precursors to the:

A)Ovaries
B)Testes
C)Female internal sex organs
D)Male internal sex organs

Question 47

The Wolffian ducts are the precursor for the:

A)Ovaries
B)Testes
C)Female internal sex organs
D)Male internal sex organs

Question 48

Which of the following is not part of the female internal genitalia?

A)Clitoris
B)Uterus
C)Inner vagina
D)Fallopian tubes

Question 49

Which hormonal stimulus is required for an XX fetus to develop labia,a clitoris,and a vagina?

A)Exposure to androgens
B)Exposure to estrogens
C)Exposure to progesterone
D)None

Question 50

In the absence of the SRY gene,the undifferentiated gonads:

A)Develop a hermaphroditic pattern
B)Develop into ovaries
C)Develop into testes
D)Disappear

Question 51

An important difference between the organizing and activating effects of hormones is that activating effects:

A)Are always temporary
B)Are irreversible
C)Occur anytime in the individual's lifetime
D)Usually occur early in development

Question 52

The set of behaviors that are considered appropriate for males but not for females and vice versa in a given society is referred to as:

A)Sex
B)Gender
C)Gender role
D)Gender identity

Question 53

When humans are classified as male or female based on their biological characteristics,researchers are referring to their:

A)Sex
B)Gender
C)Gender role
D)Gender identity

Question 54

A female results when the father's sperm contributes a(n)___ chromosome to the mother's ___ chromosome.

A)X,X
B)Y,X
C)Y,Y
D)O,X

Question 55

Androgens are produced by the:

A)Testes
B)Adrenal glands
C)Ovaries
D)All of the above

Question 56

The development of gonads into a male or female pattern depends on:

A)Whether the gonads have been exposed to estrogen
B)Whether the fetus has the XO pattern
C)The chromosomal sex
D)The presence of the SRY gene on the X chromosome

Question 57

All of the following are external genitalia except:

A)Clitoris
B)Seminal vesicles
C)Scrotum
D)Labia

Question 58

The person's feeling of being male or female is the person's:

A)Sex role
B)Gender
C)Gender role
D)Gender identity

Question 59

Which of the following is part of the male internal genitalia?

A)Penis
B)Scrotum
C)Testes
D)Vas deferens

Question 60

In humans,oxytocin is involved in all of the following except:

A)Bonding
B)Muscle contractions involved in lactation and orgasm
C)Memory for safe environments
D)Social recognition

Question 61

Males who produce low levels of testosterone early in development score poorer on measures of ___ but older men given ___ score higher on measures of spatial tasks.

A)visual-spatial ability,testosterone
B)mathematical ability,estrogen
C)visual-spatial ability,estrogen
D)verbal fluency,testosterone

Question 62

The conclusion that homicide rates vary dramatically from one culture to another points to a:

A)Biological basis for aggression
B)Environmental influence on aggression
C)Conclusion that both males and females are highly aggressive
D)Flaw in studies of homicide as aggression

Question 63

The arching of the back exhibited by a female rat during copulation is known as:

A)Lordosis
B)Receptivity
C)Proceptivity
D)Attractiveness

Question 64

Which of the following is not an organizing effect?

A)Maturation of the genitals
B)Changes in stature
C)Maturation of the clitoris
D)Increase in sexual interest

Question 65

An important difference between the organizing and activating effects of hormones is that organizing effects:

A)Are temporary
B)Are lifelong in effect
C)Occur only after puberty
D)Occur only prenatally

Question 66

What is the relationship between testosterone and aggression?

A)Testosterone causes aggression.
B)Aggression causes testosterone levels to increase.
C)Both A and B are true.
D)The two are related,but researchers do not fully understand the source of aggression.

Question 67

During which time period do hormones usually exert organizing effects?

A)Early in development
B)Puberty
C)When sexual interest occurs
D)Adulthood

Question 68

Female transsexuals taking testosterone show:

A)Increases in verbal ability
B)Increases in spatial ability
C)Decreases in spatial ability
D)No changes in verbal or spatial ability

Question 69

Why are researchers less convinced that gender-related differences in cognition and behavior have a physiological basis?

A)These differences have increased over time,due to changes in gender roles.
B)Murder rates are the same in different countries,showing that males are generally more aggressive than females.
C)Males and females no longer differ much in mathematical abilities,although boys are still overrepresented at the lower and higher extremes.
D)All of the above

Question 70

All of the following make it difficult to determine if there are gender-related differences in behavior and cognition except:

A)The results show evidence for strong differences,but people don't want to accept them.
B)Different researchers measure the same characteristic in different ways.
C)The differences that exist are relatively small.
D)The differences could be due to different rearing by parents.

Question 71

Which of the following statements is true regarding gender differences in cognitive performance?

A)There is a great deal of overlap between males and females in these characteristics.
B)The differences that do exist are rather specific;that is,females do not excel on all verbal tasks.
C)Males are better than females on tasks requiring mental rotation of 3-D objects,but less so on other spatial tasks.
D)All of the above

Question 72

If a male rat is castrated shortly after birth or given a chemical that blocks androgen's effects,as an adult it will:

A)Have normal male sex behaviors
B)Be likely to accept male rats mounting it
C)Be more likely to mount other female rats
D)Be more likely to mount male rats

Question 73

An important difference between the organizing and activating effects of hormones is that activating effects:

A)Are always lifelong in effect
B)Are reversible
C)Occur only after puberty
D)Occur early in development

Question 74

The feminization of the brain is now known to require more than an absence of ___ but also the influence of ___.

A)testosterone,aromatization
B)estradiol,testosterone
C)testosterone,estradiol
D)aromatase,estradiol

Question 75

Males who are taking estrogens because they identify sexually as females (transsexuals)score higher on measures of ___ than males who do not take estrogens.

A)verbal ability
B)mathematical ability
C)visual-spatial ability
D)aggression

Question 76

Which of the following is a result of an activating effect?

A)Muscle increases in a male
B)Beard growth in a male
C)Breast development in a female
D)All of the above

Question 77

Which of the following is involved in masculinization of the brain?

A)Estradiol
B)Testosterone
C)Aromatization
D)All of the above

Question 78

Maccoby and Jacklin concluded that boys and girls differed in their abilities in what areas?

A)Girls have greater verbal abilities.
B)Boys have greater verbal abilities.
C)Girls have greater mathematical abilities.
D)Girls have greater visual-spatial abilities.

Question 79

Maccoby and Jacklin concluded that boys and girls differed in their abilities in what areas?

A)Girls have poorer verbal abilities.
B)Boys have greater verbal abilities.
C)Girls have greater mathematical abilities.
D)Boys have greater visual-spatial abilities.

Question 80

If a female rat is given an injection of testosterone during critical brain development,as an adult it will:

A)Have normal female sex behaviors
B)Have no sexual behavior
C)Be more likely to mount other female rats
D)Be more likely to mount male rats