Hippocamp

- scop: memory formation and learning (si emotion?). (source: female brain, intro) - sunt cu 11% mai mari la femei ca la barbati (source: female brain, intro)

- experiences weekly changes in sensitivity to stress untill menopause b/c of surges in estrogen /progesterone.

- in first 2 weeks of menstrual cycle (estrogen phase) there is a 25% growth in connections (this makes girls sharper, think more quickly, remember more). those connections are killed in the last 2 weeks by progesterone (makes girl irritable, less focused, slower).

- major relay station for processing memories for words + fact that it is one of the most estrogen-sensitive parts of the brain -> take the SAT in day 12 of the menstrual cycle when estrogen the highest!