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

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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