Gonadal Hormone Involvement in Brain Activity

许多物种的雌性，包括人类， 阈值的感官刺激，可以执行运动任务更多 比男性更快。 此外，感觉运动的差异 功能正常发生在发情周期或月经周期 外源性性腺类固醇激素的周期和给药 可以模仿这些自然变化。 贝克尔医生有证据 提示雌激素通过以下方式增强感觉运动反应性 对基底神经节的神经元有直接影响， 使用多巴胺作为神经递质。 她会检查这个 类固醇和神经递质的关系 雌激素对多巴胺的突触前和突触后作用 系统 通过比较雌激素对多巴胺释放的影响 和受体活性，贝克尔博士将 确定是否已知的性别差异在感觉运动 性能与生化差异有关。 她 实验不仅增强了我们对 激素和神经递质之间的关系， 这些过程调节基底神经节功能。 由于基础 脑神经节参与许多临床 包括帕金森病和亨廷顿舞蹈病在内的疾病 疾病，这些结果对我们的 理解和治疗这些使人衰弱的疾病， 其他相关运动障碍。

Females of many species, including humans, tend to have lower thresholds for sensory stimuli and can perform motor tasks more rapidly than males. Moreover, differences in sensorimotor function normally occur during the estrous cycle or menstrual cycle and administration of exogenous gonadal steroid hormones can mimic these natural changes. Dr. Becker has evidence to suggest that estrogen enhances sensorimotor responsiveness by having direct effects on the neurons of the basal ganglia that use dopamine as the neurotransmitter. She will examine this steroid-neurotransmitter relationship by analyzing both presynaptic and postsynaptic effects of estrogen on the dopamine system. By comparing the effects of estrogen on dopamine release and receptor activity in both males and females, Dr. Becker will determine whether the known sex differences in sensorimotor performance is related to biochemical differences. Her experiments not only enhance our understanding of the relationship between hormones and neurotransmitters but also how these processes modulate basal ganglia function. Since the basal ganglia of the brain is involved in a number of clinical disorders, including Parkinson's Disease and Huntington's Disease, these results have important implications for our understanding and treatment of these debilitating disorders and other related movement disorders.