The Role Environment, Cognition and Hormones Play in Behavior
OBJECTIVE 1
• Using one or more examples, explain the functions of two hormones in human behavior.
Functions of Hormones
– Produced in the Endocrine System– Enter the bloodstream, so they are
slower reacting than neurotransmitters
Adrenaline• Gland: Adrenals• Location: above the Kidneys• Function: Arousal, Fight/Flight
Cortisol• Gland: Adrenals• Location: above the Kidneys• Function: Arousal, stress reaction,
memory
• SW= slow wave sleep (non REM)• Locus Ceruleus FR= pons, production of
Noradrenaline (parasympathetic NS)• Pyrimidal FR= neurons in the Frontal
Lobe, Hippocampus and Amygdala responsible in plasticity and cognition
• Lipolysis= the breakdown of fatty acids• Proteolysis= the breakdown of proteins
into amino acids
Melatonin• Gland: Pineal• Location: Mid Brain• Function: Sleep Regulation
Oxytocin• Gland: Pituitary/Hypothalamus• Location: Mid Brain• Function: Attraction, bonding
Testosterone/Estrogen• Gland: Gonads• Location: Testes; Uterus• Function: Sexual development, emotional
response
OBJECTIVE 2• Discuss two effects of the
environment on physiological processes.– Brain plasticity• Brain is physically sculpted by experience• Brain’s ability to adapt and accommodate
experience• See Rosenzweig, Bennett and Diamond
(1972): enriched versus impoverished environments resulted in differences in brain connectivity in rats• See also: Genie Case Study, Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome, Addiction• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vo-rcVM
gbI
OBJECTIVE 3• Examine one interaction between cognition
and physiology in terms of behavior.– Davidson: Does Meditation Change Brain Activity (2004)
• Subjects: 8 Buddhist monks and 10 novice meditators • Procedure: all were asked to meditate on love and compassion
while in a PET scanner• Results: all monks and 2 novices showed increased GAMMA
WAVES, brain activity linked to higher reasoning; soon after the test, novice gamma waves returned while the monk’s gamma waves stayed elevated showing brain plasticity due to practicing meditation
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8rRzTtP7Tc
– The Mozart Effect (Raucher et al, 1993)• Claim: listening to complex musical compositions
excites brain areas responsible for spatial tasks• Findings: spatial skill enhancement had little to do with
the music itself, and more to do with arousal (Thompson, 2001: good mood = better spatial performance without musical influence)
Mirror Neurons• Essential for observing others, social interactions, empathy•Gallese et al, 1996: mirror neurons in Rhesus monkeys–The same electrical signals were elicited in the brain when monkeys watched or performed movements.
• Iacoboni, 2004: Would looking at emotional faces cause similar brain stimulation in the viewer?–Yes: whether looking at face or making the face, the Nucleus Accumbens and Amygdala were activated just the same.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv1qUj3MuEc