Neuroplasticity, Hormones, Pheromones Assessment Study Guide

Neuroplasticity

The ability of the brain to change its natural structures to adapt to change. there are two types of neuroplasticity, dendritic branching and neutral pruning.

Dendritic branching (synaptic plasticity)

When neurons connect to create new traces in the brain which is caused by learning something new and constantly repeating the task. (growth of connections)

Neutral pruning (synaptic)

Neutral pruning (synaptic): When the repetition of a task is discontinued causing the extra neurons and synaptic connections to be lost. Though most are lost not all of them are lost which means you’ll still be able to perform the task just not as easily as before as the exsis neurons that were taking space were eliminated. (loss of connections)

“Use it or Lose it”

If you don’t use and practice your skill continuously you will lose it.

Draganski (2004) study

The aim of the study was to see whether learning a new skill - in this case, juggling - would have an effect on the brains of participants.

Hormones

Are another form of chemical messengers that are secreted (released) from glands of the endocrine system.

Endocrine system

Endocrine system: The body’s second communication system after the nervous system.

Endocrine messages

They are slow messages that can take several seconds or more before the bloodstream carries a hormone from an endocrine gland to its target tissue.

Differences between endocrine and neural messages

Differences between endocrine and neural messages: Endocrine messages are slower and travel through the bloodstream, causing long-lasting effects throughout the body. Neural messages, on the other hand, are fast and travel through nerve cells, causing quick, short-term responses.

Adrenaline

Or Epinephrine is secreted by adrenal glands and is responsible for arousal and the “fight or flight response”. It plays a role in emotional memory formation.

Cahill & McGaugh (1995) study

The aim of the study was to investigate the role of adrenaline and the amygdala on emotional memory.

Pheromones

They are chemical signals that help some species communicate. They prompt some kind of behavioral or psychological reaction. They are not smells, they are chemical molecules.

How to identify the existence of a pheromone

1. Identify a specific behavior

2. Isolate the molecule

3. synthesize (create a fake version of the molecule)

4. Test synthetic version

   • Same effects = Pheromone

   • Not the same effects = No pheromone

Reasons why the existence of a human pheromone is still being debated

We don’t have any conclusive solid evidence to clearly show that humans have pheromones and there is no conclusive evidence stating that primates, which we have evolved from, have pheromones. Due to this the existence of a human pheromone is still being debated.

If a human pheromone exists, where/how would it be secreted by the body to communicate its message?

• Specifically, the armpits would be the ideal location for dispersing pheromones.

  • They are among the warmest parts of the body and the first to sweat

  • They have lots of sweat glands

  • They are high on the torso and can easily send odor to other’s noses

  • They are protected from evaporation

  • They tend to have strong hair growth (which helps disperse order)

Hexadecanal

A “pheromone” that appears to foster aggressive behavior in women but blunt it in men.

Mishor et al. (2021) studies

The aim of the study was to determine how hexadecanal interacts with the brain to potentially cause aggression.

Draganski (2004) study procedural details

24 volunteers between the ages of 20 -24. There were 21 females and 3 males. All of the volunteers were non-jugglers at the start of the study.

Cahill & McGaigh (1995) study procedural details

There were two groups of participants (amount not specified) who listened to two different types of stories paired with 12 visual slides.

Mishor et al. (2021) study procedural details.

The participants in the study were 25 men and 24 women, totaling 49 adults.