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

TestosteroneEstrogen 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

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 –

– 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. uEc uEc