Testosterone's Effects on Biology and Behavior Essay

Robert Sapolsky’s collection of essays “The Trouble with Testosterone” is a thorough examination of the evolutionary roots of human behavior, by discussing the biology behind it. The book contains eighteen essays that explore this issue. The Stanford neuroscientist is a great writer: he concisely explains his views in each essay and makes it funny and easy for a layman to understand and absorb. He unpacks complex scientific ideas and explains them. The essay that I found most interesting was the titular essay, which was an examination of flawed logical reasoning that biologists make when they think there is a causal relationship between testosterone and aggression. Sapolsky, in that essay, explains why that is not true. These essays did not

Testosterone is released from the leydig cells and circulates the body. Like estrogen, testosterone can enter the target cell, bypassing the cell membrane and is transported to the nucleus by a carrier protein. Testosterone is also a transcription factor in which testosterone binds to genes and influences the function. Depending on the type of cell, testosterone can be converted into another form before reaching the nucleus. Only about seven percent of circulating testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and less than one percent is converted to estrogen. Testosterone first takes effect in the womb, allowing male reproductive organs to differentiate from female organs. The presence or absence of testosterone determines whether a baby will be male or female. At the onset of maturity, testosterone also signals other cells in the testes to begin production of sperm. Secondary sex characteristics include hair distribution on the face and body, the deepening of the voice as testosterone causes a growth in the larynx, induced male pattern fat distribution, bone growth, increase in sex drive and behavior. The hypothalamus regulates the amount of testosterone circulating the body by releasing follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone (Nieschlag, Behre, and Nieschlag, 2012). Testosterone utilizes a negative feedback loop by acting upon the hypothalamus to inhibit GnRH release and on the pituitary

Why do people behave the way they do? What makes us tick? While our environment molds some of who we are, much more comes from heredity and hormones. Genes passed on to us from our parents make up heredity, and glands throughout the body produce hormones. As generations progress, new psychological and behavioral traits are earned and learned. This paper will explain hormones and the endocrine system, glands associated with the endocrine system, behavior genetics, and evolutionary psychology.

Testosterone belongs to a class of male hormones called androgens that is vital for sexual and reproductive development. The National Institutes of Health regards “testosterone as the most important male hormone”(Rettner). Although the primary role of testosterone directly relates to males, women also produce testosterone at lower levels. Women’s total levels are about a “tenth to a twentieth of men’s levels”(Rettner). According to the Mayo Clinic, this hormone plays a role in sex drive, sperm production, fat distribution, red cell production, and maintenance of muscle strength and

The hormonal differences in males and females include levels of oxytocin, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and vasopressin. Oxytocin is more functionally present in females, which assists them with bonding and maintaining relationships. The level of female hormones, estrogen and

Testosterone in the male is produced mainly in the testes and a small amount is

The human body is a complex system; both the female and male have the same basic organs and almost the same functions. The main difference is considered to be the sexual organs and the hormones they produce. As some people might know the women’s body secretes the hormone estrogen, which starts the secondary sexual characteristics, which include the breasts, the menstrual cycle, the pubic and armpit hair production, the metabolism, and the ability to create a baby inside of her. Estrogen production is mainly produced in the ovaries and affects the vagina, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and mammary glands. The male’s body secretes the hormone testosterone, which affects their sex drive, their bone mass, their voice, their hair production, their

Anabolic-androgenic steroid is a family of lipophilic hormone that derived from cholesterol, which includes the natural male hormone testosterone and its synthetic derivatives, such as nandrolone and androsterone (Janjic et al. 2012; Basile et al. 2013). Testosterone is the principle molecule that possesses both anabolic and androgenic properties, which semantically refers to the ability to stimulate the synthesis of complex biological molecules and the growth of masculine characteristics respectively (Quan et al. 2011). The supplement of testosterone has been used in medicine as an effective treatment of hypogonadism or severe muscle catabolism since its discovery. However, due to the poor efficacy in the form of oral medication and

testosterone has increased significantly among men in their 30’s or older who are experiencing issues with libido, strength, and energy.

One of the most obvious physical changes is hair growth. I have had a significant increase in the amount of hair on my face, chest, abdomen, arms, and legs. The hair has darkened as well as gotten coarse. My skin also feels rougher, and I have experienced some acne as a outcome of that. Being that Testosterone has the ability to thicken your vocal chords, My Voice has Deepened tremendously. I have also noticed a difference in the way my body is shaped as well. Testosterone redistributes the fat in the body, and it has made me look more masculine. For example, my shoulders have broad out, and it makes me appear taller. Although these changes did not take place overnight, they certainly have made an incredible impact on the way I see

Our behaviour and emotion are determined by two hormones, testosterone and cortisol. Testosterone determines dominance and assertiveness, while cortisol controls the reactivity to stress. Research done by Cuddy and her team showed that higher levels of testosterone leads to higher self-confidence, whereas lower levels of cortisol leads to a fall in anxiety and an improved de-stress ability (Cuddy, Wilmuth & Carney, 2012). Therefore, research result has established the theory that human can handle stress better if we were to be able to control the hormone level.

In a study conducted by Mrazik and Dombrowski (2010), prenatal testosterone exposure has been linked to children with high mental abilities. Testosterone influences the right side of the brain, which is where our science, mathematics, reasoning and abstract thinking take place. There is evidence that excessive prenatal exposure to testosterone facilitates increased connections in the brain, especially in the right prefrontal cortex. Children that have above-average intelligence have very highly developed brain networks in that specific area that is influenced by testosterone. While this study claims that excessive prenatal exposure to testosterone leads to higher intelligence, the origin of the exposure to testosterone is still unclear. Previous

Gonadotropin is released from the hypothalamus. It travels through the hyposeal tract into the anterior pituitary lobe. The anterior pituitary lobe is stimulated by gonadotropin to release follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH) and lutenising hormones (LH) into the blood to stimulate the gonads to produce sex steroids such as testosterone. Growth hormones also operate using this mechanism.

There’s 800 pounds bending that bar. Count the plates. And Ronnie’s bangin’ it out for REPS!

Both glands produce two distinct hormones, but produce differing amounts of each hormone. Masculine hormones such as androgens and testosterone are predominately produced by male testes. These hormones at high levels can be related to aggressive behavior regardless of sex, but high levels are most commonly found in males. High levels of feminine hormones or estrogen, most commonly found in females, have recently been linked to aggressive behavior as well. While high levels of estrogen in females and high levels of testosterone in males have been linked to aggressive behavior, normal levels of these hormones have been known to cause aggression as well. Although these hormones have been related to human behavior, scientists have concluded that these hormones alone do not dictate behavior (Morris & Maisto, 2005).