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Sex Differences and Hormonal Influences in Human Sensorimotor Gating: Implications for Schizophrenia

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Biological Basis of Sex Differences in Psychopharmacology

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences ((CTBN,volume 8))

Abstract

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle response serves to prevent the interruption of ongoing perceptual and early sensory analysis and provides a simple operational measure of sensorimotor gating. In line with postulated deficits in early stages of information processing, PPI is disrupted in schizophrenia. PPI is considered a valid candidate for an endophenotypic marker in genetic studies of schizophrenia and has also been extensively used in translational research. Importantly, there are well-replicated sex differences and menstrual phase effects in prepulse-elicited startle modulation of nonclinical young populations. Lack of knowledge about the precise roles of sex differences and hormonal effects in prepulse-elicited startle modulation and in the schizophrenia disease process presents a stumbling block to continuous progress in this field. This chapter reviews a wealth of data demonstrating sex and hormonal influences in prepulse-elicited startle modulation and considers their implications for our understanding of the pathophysiology, genetics, and potential treatments of schizophrenia.

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Acknowledgment

The author acknowledges funding support by The British Academy (SG-39919) for her studies of sex differences and menstrual phase effects in PESM.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    Veena Kumari

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  1. Bradford School of Pharmacy, University Bradford, Bradford, W.Yorkshire, BD7 1DP, United Kingdom

    Jo C. Neill

  2. Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Commercial Rd., Melbourne, 3004, Australia

    Jayashri Kulkarni

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Kumari, V. (2011). Sex Differences and Hormonal Influences in Human Sensorimotor Gating: Implications for Schizophrenia. In: Neill, J., Kulkarni, J. (eds) Biological Basis of Sex Differences in Psychopharmacology. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, vol 8. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2010_117

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