Testosterone levels found to rise in women in dominant role regardless of behavior

In our modern society, testosterone has come to be synonymous with manliness—high levels of the hormone in female athletes has even been used to try to ban some women from competing in Olympic events with other women who have "normal" levels. But, as the authors of this new study argue, gender socialization may have an impact on testosterone levels as well, particularly in women.

Researchers found that testosterone levels in women rise when engaging in a dominant behavior regardless of whether they act in more masculine or feminine ways while doing it.

In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes the study they carried out with male and female volunteers and what their results might mean for the role women play in modern society.

The BRAIN Within Our BRAIN:

"No Brain Mapping Without Glia" ( How nice to see another huge fan of our Glial Brain within the Brain)

An informative blog post for Great Background
(a good first step in deciphering the riddle of the importance of this network of "non-neuronal' cells that make the Brain work

http://jonlieffmd.com/blog/no-brain-mapping-without-glia…

"Almost all of the current research incentives are for studying the details of the neuron electrical neurotransmitter network; and few to describe the three glial cells’ function. Brain mapping and “connectome” studies need to include all glial cells -

"It is unrealistic to consider mapping the brain without most of the critical brain cells. The three glia—astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes—regulate all aspects of neuronal signaling networks.

"The fact is that glial cells are absolutely critical in every aspect of neuronal function. The collaboration of glia and neurons occurs at many different scales—in large whole brain circuits, small local circuits and individual neurons and synapses. - See more at:

"Many neuroscientists have focused only on the structure of neuronal connections and synapses. In fact one of the outmoded “dogmas” is that each neuron sends a signal to the next neuron, which along with other signals, is computed like a computer chip. This concept is hopelessly simplistic. There are thousands of factors in the neuronal network. And there are many other ways living individual neurons communicate—brain waves, electrical potential, cytonemes, and exosomes, among others.

"It is impossible to consider understanding brain function without the three glial cells. To think that just mapping the neuronal connections will describe mental function is absurd. While most money is going into studies of neurons, there is a vast amount of work to be done on the three glial cells. "

diagram from
Unsung brain cells play key role in neurons' development
http://med.stanford.edu/…/unsung-brain-cells-play-key-role-…

The following verses are from the Tirukural about slaughter and offer meat

How can he practice true compassion
who eats the flesh of an animal to fatten his own flesh?

Riches cannot be found in the hands of the thriftless,
nor can compassion be found in the hearts of those who eat meat.

He who feasts on a creature's flesh is like he who wields a weapon.
Goodness is never one with the minds of these two.

If you ask, "What is kindness and what is unkindness?"
It is not-killing and killing. Thus, eating flesh is never virtuous.

Life is perpetuated by not eating meat.
The jaws of Hell close on those who do.

If the world did not purchase and consume meat,
no one would slaughter and offer meat for sale.

When a man realizes that meat is the butchered flesh
of another creature, he will abstain from eating it.

Insightful souls who have abandoned the passion to hurt others
will not feed on flesh that life has abandoned.

Greater than a thousand ghee offerings consumed in sacrificial
fires is to not sacrifice and consume any living creature.

All life will press palms together in prayerful adoration
of those who refuse to slaughter or savor meat.