Introduction to Hormones - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Introduction to Hormones

Ms.

CarmelitanoSlide2

The system of glands, each of which secretes different types

of hormones into the bloodstream to regulate the body.

The endocrine systemSlide3

Different glands in the Endocrine system are responsible for producing different hormones

Because hormones are secreted into the bloodstream, they take longer to effect behavior than neurotransmitters do.

Endocrine systemSlide4

Chemicals released from endocrine tissue into the bloodstream

They travel to target tissue and generate a response.

Hormones regulate various human functions, including metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, and mood.

HormonesSlide5

When

hormones function normally, they cause us to exhibit different behaviors

When there is a malfunction in one of the hormones, this can cause a malfunction in human behavior

Hormones and PsychologySlide6

Adrenaline

Cortisol

MelatoninOxytocinTestosterone and estrogen

Important HormonesSlide7

Gland:

Adrenal gland (located on the Kidneys)

Function: Flight or Fight response, arousalWhen we find ourselves in a life-threatening situation, this is the hormone that pushes us to act

It has been known to give people powers they did not know they hadIts release may make people feel “jittery”

AdrenalineSlide8

Schachter and Singer (1962)

Aim: To determine the role external stimuli play in

reaction to adrenaline

(To test the two-factory theory)The question was: when adrenaline is released, does this immediately initiate the fight or flight response, or is their an emotional appraisal that accounts for the response?

Procedure:

184

male college

students

Half given an adrenaline injection

Half given a

placebo of saline solution

(has no effect)

Participants who received adrenaline

split into 3 groups

Group

1: was told nothing about the side effects of the adrenalineGroup 2: was told that the substance would cause itching and numbness Group 3: was told that the injection would increase the activity of their nervous system. (Actual reaction

)

Group 4: control

Then participants were taken to a room to wait

with a confederate (actor)

Euphoria:

Confederate encouraged the participant to play games

Anger:

The confederate acted angry and hostile about a questionnaire the participants were asked to fill outSlide9

Schachter and Singer (1962)

Findings:

The participants in group 1 and 2 who didn't

receive accurate information about the effects of the injection tended to imitate the behaviors of the confederates

.

Either angry or happy

The

participants

who

were told the truth

about the adrenaline and

the members of the control group were

uninfluenced

by the

behavior

of the confederates. They reported feeling jittery and increased heart rateThis supports Schachter and Singer's theory that the body reacts in physically similar ways even though different emotions are being experienced. Slide10

Gland: Pineal (located in the brain)

Function: Regulation of sleep

Chemically causing drowsiness and lowering the body temperatureInhibited by light, permitted by darkness

MelatoninSlide11

Malfunctions in Melatonin – too much

SAD

Seasonal Affective DisorderA type of seasonal depression categorized by sleepiness and lack of interest

During winter months, there are longer periods of darknessThe darkness stimulates the body to release a higher level of melatonin into the bloodWill make a person feel excessively tired and lethargic

Higher Melatonin levels may lead to SADSlide12

Avery et al. (2001)

Aim: To understand the role light plays in the production of Melatonin

Procedure: Assigned 95 SAD patients to three different groups1. Received dawn stimulation starting at 4:30 AM

2. Received traditional bright light therapy (exposed to a bright light as soon as they woke up)3. Placebo received exposure to red light at dawn

Findings

:

Those who had been exposed to the placebo or bright light showed less improvement in their SAD symptoms. The Placebo patients reported having insomnia.

Conclusion:

Symptoms of SAD are related to sleep patterns.

In the winter, we wake before the sun rises.

In darkness, our Melatonin rises, which helps us fall asleep.

When we rise and it is still dark outside, our Melatonin levels remain high, which causes the symptoms of SAD (feeling lethargic, feeling tired, non-motivated) Slide13

Gland: Pituitary and hypothalamus (Located in the brain)

Function: Mother-Child attachment, bonding between sexual

partners, induces laborResponsible for initiation of bonding behaviors, but not maintenance

OxytocinSlide14

Morhenn et al. (2008)

Aim: To determine how

Oxytocin level affects levels of trust

Method: Assigned 96 students randomly to 3 different groups Blood samples of all groups were taken once before the study began and once after it was complete1.

Massage – Trust

: received a Swedish massage for 15 minutes and then were asked to give money to another participant

2.

Rest-Trust

: did not receive a massage, rested for 15 minutes, and then were asked to give money to another participant

3.

Massage only

: received a Swedish massage for 15 minutes:

control

Procedure

: in the “trust” situations: the participant was given $10.00. They were told that they could give some of the money to another participant, and the second participant could chose to give them money in return.Slide15

Morhenn et al. (2008)

Findings

: Massage only showed no significant change in Oxytocin

; however it did seem to “prime” participants to spend more money.The group that was given the massage was more likely to give more money to their partner in the Money game.

After playing this game, in which trust was involved, the first group showed an increase in their

Oxytocin

levels. Slide16

Morhenn et al (2008)

Conclusion:

Touch alone is not enough to increase Oxytocin levels

however may prime a participant to be more generous and trusting. Once this trust is added to the equation, Oxytocin levels may rise, causing feelings of bonding.

This is why touch and trust are important in relationshipsSlide17

Gland: Gonads of the male

Function: Development, emotions

In men, testosterone plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues (although both males and females have testosterone)May be responsible for more aggressive behavior

TestosteroneSlide18

Dabbs et al.

Aim: To study the correlation between high levels of testosterone and aggression

Procedure:Measure the level of Testosterone in 692 male adult prisoners

Tested prisoners who had committed violent and “petty” crimesFindings:Prisoners who committed sex and violence crime had higher level of Testosterone.

When compared to those who were in jail for property crime or drug abuseSlide19

Aim: To analyze if testosterone causes aggression, or simply primes the behavior

Procedure: Measured the testosterone levels in the saliva of chess players before and after a match

Results:Chess players who won had higher levels of testosterone than those who lostConclusion:

Increased levels of testosterone may not cause aggression, but status-seeking behaviorThe aggression may be a result of the environment

Mazur and Booth (1992)Slide20

Gland: Adrenal (located on the Kidneys)

Arousal, stress hormone, memory

Cortisol is released when a person is experiencing an external stressor in order to activate anti-stress pathwaysCortisol works with adrenaline to create memories of short-term emotional events

This may help create “Flash-bulb memories”Flash-bulb memories - a highly detailed, exceptionally vivid 'snapshot'

CortisolSlide21

Fernald and Gunnar (2008)

Aim: To understand how poverty can affect children’s mental health by altering their cortisol levels

Procedure: Gave 639 Mexican mothers and their children, surveys to judge their levels of depressionTook blood samples of the children to judge their cortisol levelsSlide22

Fernald and Gunnar (2008)

Findings

Children of depressed mothers, living in extreme poverty, produced less cortisolThis left the children susceptible to depression and disease

The mother’s depression and poor living conditions affected the child’s health