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

Impact of Cortisol SW= slow wave sleep (non REM) Locus Ceruleus = pons, production of Noradrenaline (parasympathetic NS) Pyrimidal = 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-rcVMgbI

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