Brain and Behavior HOME VARIATION within a SPECIES PATHOLOGY GENDER SEXUALITY LINKS

Variation Within a Species hermaphroditic fish domestic cats crayfish aggression Alzheimer's and other Pathologies The Question of Gender The Question of Sexuality Links Bibliography

Serotonin helps us see differences in brain & behavior Scientists are unsure as to why exactly serotonin has such a significantly different effect on the behavior of dominant or subordinate crayfish. It is assumed that "social status is recognized in the brain or anterior nervous system, and a persistent signal alerts LG and perhaps other parts of the nervous system to the nature of the change" (Yeh, 1997). Additionally, in other species, changes in social status (and behavior patterns!!) have been seen to affect cell size and level of hormone expression in certain neurons, such that the dominant individuals have larger relevant cells and degree of hormone (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) expression. See this paper for more details. Why is this important? HOME || VARIATION || PATHOLOGY || GENDER || SEXUALITY || LINKS