Sex differentiation helps explain why traditionally, people were classified into two separate genders. Sex differentiation is especially sensitive during a developmental phase that takes place roughly 60 days after contraception and continues throughout an individual’s life.
Gonadal hormones such as estrogen and testosterone can contribute to the differential of tissues in the …show more content…
Previous research has shown that the presence of testosterone masculine the brain early in life. Additionally, if there is a low level of testosterone in the brain in males during development, the brain will masculinizes to a lesser extent, creating a less masculine gender identity. Estrogen, however, does not have this effect in females. This is thought to be due to an enzyme that prevents estrogen’s entry into the brain (Kolb, 2016). Although gonadal hormones play a lessor role in shaping female behavior, other behaviors, such as reproductive are regulated by estrogen. If there are low levels of estradiol present in a female, the menstrual cycle will temporarily …show more content…
The brain will be less masculine, creating a gender that is more feminine. Various levels of sexual hormones in adulthood might explain other in sex differences. For example, testosterone and estrogen have different effects on the body during times of stress. When there is a high amount of testosterone present when the body undergoes stress, a neuron’s axons tend to shrink. However, axon’s often experience growth in the presence of estrogen. This is due to distinct differences in what chemicals testosterone and estrogen activate during fight or flight. Testosterone activates primarily Adrenaline which promotes fight or flight while estrogen activates Oxytocin (Taylor et al. 2000). This reaction tends to encourage a response called tend & befriend in which a person reaches out to another in times of stress, promoting the growth of