Topic: Brain & Behaviour
Content: Hormones and Behaviour
intro_to_hormones___behaviour.docx | |
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File Type: | docx |
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Hormones are chemical messengers that function in our bloodstream; they are produced by glands in our bodies. A 'gland' is an organ that synthesizes substances, such as hormones. Check your text 79 for a visual overview of our main glands. Hormones production and release from glands can be stimulated from other parts of the brain. The collection of glands which stimulates/produces hormones is referred to collectively as our endocrine system. Unlike neural messaging which is very, very fast, hormone 'messaging' can take quite a long time as hormones travel through the blood.
You must know the effects of TWO hormones on human behaviour. We will study oxytocin (attachment/bonding) & cortisol (stress).
For a general introduction:
Oxytocin: read 6 Fascinating Facts about the 'love hormone'
Cortisol: scroll below to the clips and watch 'How Chronic Stress Impacts the Brain'
You must know the effects of TWO hormones on human behaviour. We will study oxytocin (attachment/bonding) & cortisol (stress).
For a general introduction:
Oxytocin: read 6 Fascinating Facts about the 'love hormone'
Cortisol: scroll below to the clips and watch 'How Chronic Stress Impacts the Brain'
Crash Course: Endocrine System
Check out this Crash Course video on the Endocrine System. There is a really interesting link made at the beginning between hormone activity and social stereotypes. "We are all hormonal all the time!" There is much more detail in this clip than you need for IB Psych, but it is interesting, nonetheless.
Some key ideas about how hormones help us: 50 types at work all the time Metabolism Sleep cycle Stress Homeostasis Hormones trigger other hormones |
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For fun! Howard Has a lot of estrogen (Big Bang theory) |
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How Cortisol Impacts Physiology (Dr Walsh)
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How Chronic Stress Impacts the Brain |
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