N138: Sex Influences on the Brain is taught Spring Quarter by Professor Larry Cahill.

LarryCahill (from Chair Office)

Dr. Larry Cahill

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Prerequisite: BIO SCI 99

Course Objective:

Explores the neural bases of sex influences on brain function.

Sample Syllabus:

Week # Topic
1

Setting the Stage

  • Some Historical Background, and a survey of what sex differences in the brain meant until recently.
  • Page Lecture, The Essential Origin, XX and XY
2

Foundational Studies

  • Earliest Hormonal Work
  • Growth of the “Hormonal” Understanding
3

The Emerging Understanding – It’s not all Hormones

  • Evidence of Gene Basis I
  • Evidence of Gene Basis II
4

Exploration of Specific Topics – Focus on Animal Research

  • Animal Research I
  • Animal Research II
5

Exploration of Specific Topics – Focus on Animal Research

  • Animal Research III
  • Animal Research IV
6

Sex Influences on the Human Brain

  • The Human Mammal I
  • The Human Mammal II
7

Interaction with the Environment: Biological Limits to Environmental Effect

  • Nature or Nurture? It has to be both, but how?
  • Nature Interacts with Nurture- Udry
8

More Relevance for Disease

  • Diseases I
  • Diseases II
9

Discussion of Specific Topics, Human Focus

  • Cross-Cultural Studies
  • Where did the concept of “Gender” come from, and what does it really mean? How does it relate to”sex?
10

Taking it to the Streets: Public Perceptions and a Scientists Responsibility – avoiding the ideologies on both sides who either make too much or make too little of sex influences.

  • Mars and Venus?
  • What have we learned?