PSYC 1100 Exam 3

hormones

chemicals secreted by one group of cells and carried through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, where they act on specific target tissues to produce physiological effects

endocrine glands

glands that produce and secrete hormones into the bloodstream

exocrine glands

ducts that secrete fluids such as tears and sweat outside of the body

endocrine communication

the chemical signal is a hormone released into the bloodstream to act on target tissues

synaptic communication

communication via synapses, where the released chemical signal diffuses a tiny distance across the synaptic cleft and chases a change in the postsynaptic membrane

autocrine communication

released chemical acts on the releasing cell

paracrine communication

released chemical diffuses to nearby target cells

pheromone communication

hormones used to communicate between individuals of the same species

allomone communication

chemicals released by one species to affect the behavior of another species

neuroendocrine cells

neurons that release hormones into the blood

neuropeptides

peptides used by neurons that can act as neuromodulators and alter sensitivity to transmitters

neuromodulators

can modify the reactivity of cells to specific transmitters - they act more slowly than neurotransmitters and have longer lasting effects

peptide

protein hormones

amine

monoamine hormones

steroid

derived from cholesterol and share its structure of four rings of carbon items

neurosteroids

steroids made in the brain, including testosterone and estrogen

aromatase

brain made enzyme that can convert testosterone into estrogen

ovaries have a lot of aromatase, thus release a lot of estrogen

negative feedback loop

output feeds back and inhibits further secretion

pituitary gland

small, complex endocrine gland located in a socket at the base of the skull

pituitary stalk

thin piece of tissue that connects the pituitary gland to the hypothalamus; contains many axons that extend only to the posterior pituitary

posterior pituitary

rear division of the pituitary gland that releases hormones but does not make them

oxytocin

produced by neuroendocrine cells in the hypothalamus

triggers milk letdown in nursing females and pair bonding

vasopressin

produced by neuroendocrine cells in the hypothalamus

promotes water conservation and increases blood pressure and pair bonding

anterior pituitary

front division of the pituitary gland responsible for secreting tropic hormones

tropic hormones

any of a class of anterior pituitary hormones that affect that secretion of hormones by other endocrine glands

releasing hormones

peptide hormones that regulate the secretion of tropic hormones from the anterior pituitary

median eminence

where the axons of neuroendocrine cells in the hypothalamus converge

hypothalamic-pituitary portal system

profusion of blood vessels where axon terminals of the hypothalamic neuroendocrine cells secrete their releasing hormones into the local bloodstream

growth hormone (GH)

released from the anterior pituitary that promotes growth of cells and tissues; if a child is living in stressful conditions, the brain monitors these conditions and reduces the production and release of GH

adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

controls production and release of adrenal cortex steroid hormones

thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

increases thyroid hormone release

follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

stimulates egg-containing follicles in ovaries or sperm production in males

luteinizing hormone (LH)

stimulates follicles to form the corpora lutea in ovaries and testosterone production by the testes

prolactin

stimulates lactation in females and is involved in parental behavior

adrenal glands

glands located on top of each kidney

epinephrine/norepinephrine

amine hormones released by the adrenal medulla

adrenocorticoids

steroid hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex

glucocorticoids

supgroup involved with glucose metabolism

cortisol

glucocorticoid stress hormone that increases blood glucose and breaks down protein

gonadotropins

anterior pituitary tropic hormone that stimulates the cells of the gonads to produce s3x steroids and gametestet

testes

the male gonads, which produce sperm and androgenic steroid hormones

testosterone

a hormone, produced by male gonads, that controls a variety of bodily changes that become visible at puberty; androgen

androgens

any of a class of hormones that includes testosterone and similar steroids

ovaries

female gonads that produce eggs for reproduction

ovarian hormones

produced in cycles, the duration of which varies with species

progestins

hormones that help to maintain pregnancy; progesterone

estrogens

hormones involved in periodic sexual receptivity of females; estradiol

ovulatory cycle

FSH stimulates ovarian follicles to grow and secrete estrogens

estrogens induce hypothalamus and pituitary to release LS, releasing an egg from a follicle

develops a corpus luteum, mantaining to uterus for pregnancy

oral contraceptives

contain small doses of estrogens which exert negative feedback on the hypothalamus

sexual differentiation

the process by which individuals develop either male or female bodies and brains

indifferent gonads

glands that vaguely resemble both testes and ovaries

SRY gene

sex-determining region on the Y chromosome; responsible for the development of testes

genital tubercle

in the early fetus, a bump between the legs that can develop into a clitoris or a penis

wolffian ducts

duct system in the embryo that will develop into male reproductive structures of androgens are present

mullerian ducts

duct system in the embryo that will develop into female reproductive structures in the absence of AMH

anti-mullerian hormone (AMH)

a peptide hormone secreted by the fetal testes that inhibits mullerian duct development

dihydrotestosterone (DHT)

a more potent androgen that helped to masculinize other structures

turner’s syndrome

a person has only one sex chromosome, a single X

congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)

causes developing females to be exposed to excess androgens before birth

intersex

referring to an individual with atypical genital development and sexual differentiation, whose genitalia are generally interediate in form between female and male

androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS)

caused by an androgen receptor gene mutation that renders tissues insensitive to androgenic hormones

biological rhythyms

regular fluctuations in any living process

circadian rhythyms

a pattern of behavioral, biochemical, or physiological fluctuation that has a 24 hour period

infradian rhythyms

rhythmic biological events with a period longer than a day

free running

a rhythms of behavior shown by an animal deprived of external cues about time of day

period

interval of time between two similar points of successive cycles, like sunrise to sunset

phase shift

shift in the activity of a biological rhythm, typically provided by.a synchronizing environmental stimulus like light

entrainment

the process of synchronizing a biological rhythm to an environmental stimulus

zeitgeber

“time giver”, stimulus that entrains circadian rhythms

suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

location of the biological clock in the hypothalamus

retinohypothalamic pathway

retinal ganglion cells send their axons along this pathway, carrying infor about light to the hypothalamus to entrain behavior

melanopsin

photopigment found in retinal ganglion cells that project to the SCN

melatonin

an amine hormone that signals day length to the brain

clock and cycle

the two proteins used for the biological clock. they transcript proteins, form them, and break them down over ~24 hours.

infradian rhythm examples

menstrual cycle and seasonal behavior disorders

ultradian rhythm examples

activity, feeding, hormone release, daydreaming, sleep-wake cycle

circannual

occuring on a roughly annual basis

electroencephalography (EEG)

recording and studying the gross electrical activity of the brain recorded from large electrodes placed on the scalp

electro-oculography (EOG)

electrical recording of eye movements

electromyography (EMG)

electrical recording of muscle activity

rapid eye movement sleep (REM)

paradoxical sleep; small amplitude, fast EEG waves; no postural tension; rapid eye movement

NREM stage 1

small amplitude EEG waves, slow heart rate, and reduced muscle tension

NREM stage 2

bursts of EEG waves

NREM stage 3

slow waves, large amplitude

nightmares

long, frightening dreams that awaken the sleeper from REM sleep

night terrors

sudden arousal from stage 3 sleep, marked by fear and autonomic activity

sleep deprivation

partial or total prevention of sleep

sleep recovery

process of sleeping more than normally after a period of sleep deprivation

biological functions of sleep

energy conservation, niche adaptation, body/brain restoration, memory consolidation

neural systems of sleep

forebrain (SWS), brainstem (waking), pontine system (REM)

emotion

a subjective mental state that is usually accompanied by distinctive behaviors as well as involuntary physiological changes

james-lange theory

our experience of emotion is a response to the physiological changes that accompanny it

cannon bard theory

emotions precede physiological responses and help deal with a changing environment

cognitive attribution model

emotional labels are attributed to relatively nonspecific feelings of physiological arousal

schacter’s cognitive attribution theory

patterns of autonomic activity may actually differ between several emotions

individual response stereotypy

people differ in emotional reactivity and physiological responses to emotional situations; evident even in infants

core set of emotions

darwin says due to evolution

facial feedback hypothesis

sensory feedback from our facial expressions can affect our mood

superficial facial muscles

attach between points of facial skin