Sexual differentiation

In this volume, researchers who have conducted crucial studies in different areas of sexual differentiation present novel conceptualizations of the organizing consequences of hormones at various points in the lifespan. Sexual Differentiation integrates the large body of information drawn from human and animal research on the differentiation of sexually dimorphic neural and behavioral characteristics, and examines underlying mechanisms that can provide important insights into behavioral patterns and cognitive functions during youth, adulthood, and old age. Utilizing the organizational theory of sexual differentiation as a framework, the authors discuss the genetic, experiential, and gonadal hormonal effects on the expression of a variety of sex-related processes. The extensively referenced and illustrated text delineates major genetic defects and strain comparisons as a means of identifying genotypic influences and normal mechanisms involved in the development of sexual behavior; how age and the hormonal milieu interact to influence sex differences in central nervous system morphology; hormonal organization and activation of sexually dimorphic behaviors; the significance of ovarian steroidal hormones in the differentiation of female behavioral characteristics; the interaction of perinatal hormonal and pre-pubertal social factors in determining sexual behavior; and effects of maternal drug use during pregnancy on sexual differentiation in males. A sourcebook of the latest research advances, Sexual Differentiation will benefit students and investigators concerned with understanding the actions of hormones on crucial behaviors in animals and humans.