The Maternal Immune Hypothesis Suggest That a Male Child Could

question 36

Multiple Choice

The maternal immune hypothesis suggest that a male child could be predisposed to homosexuality when

• A) his H-Y antigens cause his mother to release too much estrogen, exposing his fetal brain to feminization.
• B) his mother's antibodies attack his H-Y antigens, preventing the fetal brain from developing male-typical brain structures.
• C) a fetus develops an immunity to the effects of maternal testosterone, preventing masculinization of his brain.
• D) his mother is exposed to certain vaccines that increase her immune response, preventing certain fetal structures that are central to a masculine brain from developing.

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Definitions:

Basal Ganglia

A group of nuclei in the brain involved in the control of movement, as well as aspects of learning, emotion, and the rewarding effects of substances.

Deafferentation

Refers to the loss or interruption of the afferent connections of nerve cells, preventing sensory information from reaching parts of the brain.

Penfield

Refers to Wilder Penfield, a neurosurgeon whose pioneering work in the mid-20th century greatly advanced the understanding of neurological localization of brain functions.

Motor Cortex

The cerebral cortex segment involved in organizing, managing, and executing movements done on purpose.