The release of hormones throughout the human body impacts society daily. By definition, hormones are chemicals that are released by glands which circulate in the bloodstream and act as messengers affecting particular cells and organs. With this, hormones affect human behavior. According to emedicinehealth.com, the endocrine system is made up of glands that produce and secrete hormones, chemical substances produced in the body that regulate the activity of cells or organs. This system enables hormones such as melatonin and cortisol to take effect on human behavior, which will be discussed in this paper. Cortisol is dispensed through the adrenal glands and melatonin is dispensed by the pineal gland. These hormones impact both physiology and psychology
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Cortisol is directly related to stress levels. In addition to being a stress flag, cortisol affects the hippocampus which directly influences learning and memory. John Newcomer discovered the correlation between cortisol and the hippocampus and conducted the Washington University Study in 1999. This study tested the relationship between high levels of cortisol and memory impairment. Newcomer tested 51 individuals by administering either a high dose of cortisol (160 mg), a low dose of cortisol (40 mg), or a low dose of a placebo. The patients were on verbal declarative memory. Through the Washington University study, Newcomer determined that high levels of cortisol have a positive correlation to lower amounts of memory retrieval. This relationship supports that cortisol has a direct connection with behavior since a larger amount of cortisol can influence …show more content…
The pineal gland is stimulated by darkness and inhibited by light. Therefore, melatonin is released more at night to help with sleep. This is why individuals who work the night shift can use melatonin supplements to improve sleeping habits during the day. Melatonin supplements are also used to combat insomnia (the inability to sleep) and jet lag. (Nichols, Alper, & Milkin, 2007) Melatonin levels correlate to the circadian rhythm, which is a biological clock based on the 24 hour day. In 1987, Norman Rosenthal studied the effects of melatonin and discovered some important connections. Rosenthal set out to see if taking melatonin in the early evening would improve one’s ability to fall asleep. His major discovery is that through the consumption of melatonin, the circadian clock of the patients was disrupted, which could cause seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a subcategory of depression which shows characteristics such as sleepiness and lethargy. Rosenthal discovered that a high level of melatonin is common among those suffering from SAD. Individuals who live farther from the equator will suffer from this on greater occasion due to having less average sunlight than individuals closer to the equator. Also, SAD is also more common for individuals who have family members that suffer from depression. The lethargy and sleepiness developed through seasonal affective disorder on humans directly
Cortisol is directly related to stress levels. In addition to being a stress flag, cortisol affects the hippocampus which directly influences learning and memory. John Newcomer discovered the correlation between cortisol and the hippocampus and conducted the Washington University Study in 1999. This study tested the relationship between high levels of cortisol and memory impairment. Newcomer tested 51 individuals by administering either a high dose of cortisol (160 mg), a low dose of cortisol (40 mg), or a low dose of a placebo. The patients were on verbal declarative memory. Through the Washington University study, Newcomer determined that high levels of cortisol have a positive correlation to lower amounts of memory retrieval. This relationship supports that cortisol has a direct connection with behavior since a larger amount of cortisol can influence …show more content…
The pineal gland is stimulated by darkness and inhibited by light. Therefore, melatonin is released more at night to help with sleep. This is why individuals who work the night shift can use melatonin supplements to improve sleeping habits during the day. Melatonin supplements are also used to combat insomnia (the inability to sleep) and jet lag. (Nichols, Alper, & Milkin, 2007) Melatonin levels correlate to the circadian rhythm, which is a biological clock based on the 24 hour day. In 1987, Norman Rosenthal studied the effects of melatonin and discovered some important connections. Rosenthal set out to see if taking melatonin in the early evening would improve one’s ability to fall asleep. His major discovery is that through the consumption of melatonin, the circadian clock of the patients was disrupted, which could cause seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a subcategory of depression which shows characteristics such as sleepiness and lethargy. Rosenthal discovered that a high level of melatonin is common among those suffering from SAD. Individuals who live farther from the equator will suffer from this on greater occasion due to having less average sunlight than individuals closer to the equator. Also, SAD is also more common for individuals who have family members that suffer from depression. The lethargy and sleepiness developed through seasonal affective disorder on humans directly