Hypothalamus

SA2 Expected outcomes and potential difficulties. The results of the experiments proposed in SA2 are expected to determine if POMC and AgRP neurons form synapses with MC3R VTA neurons, determine the identity of MC3R-expressing VTA neurons, and to map afferent and efferent projections of VTA MC3R neurons. GABA neurons are the second most numerous neuronal population in the VTA. Therefore, it is expected that a large proportion of TH negative MC3R-expressing VTA neurons will colocalize with GAD67…

other words, main areas in the brain are under construction and are more sensitive to the toxic effects of alcohol. These effects inhibit parts of the brain such as the cerebral cortex, central nervous stem, frontal lobes, hippocampus, cerebellum, hypothalamus, and medulla. In more detail, it makes one…

olfaction are proposed to converge in this region and construct the perception of flavor. Neurons of the secondary gustatory cortex are also proposed to be involved in satiety. Taste signal from orbifrontal cortex goes to the amygdala and the lateral hypothalamus, which is proposed to impart hedonic value to taste sensations and integrate taste information in the context of energy need and reward (Hofmann et al., 2011). Finally, cortical taste areas send afferents to the NTS/parabrachial nucleus…

Should the drinking age be lowered? Some people believe lowering the drinking age would be a good thing. However, others believe the drinking age should not be lowered because the brain is still developing until about the age of 25. ( SAMHSA). Drinking alcohol underage can affect a developing brain in many ways. Drinking alcohol, even at the age of 18 can be dangerous because the brain is continuing development. Drinking under the influence can be more dangerous for inexperienced drivers. When…

INCREASE FUNCTIONING OF PREFRONTAL CORTEX AND LONG-TERM MEMORY As children grow older, they begin to use “rules” in order to solve problems, play games, and interact in society. The prefrontal cortex plays an important role in retrieving the rules that govern a child’s behavior (Bunge 118). As a child grows up throughout middle and late childhood, their prefrontal cortex begins to function as a guide to the basic rules of the human life. The prefrontal cortex “processes the information about…

Introduction As homeotherms, humans have the ability to control thermoregulatory mechanisms: physiological processes that are critical to maintaining core temperature within a very narrow limit. Although peripheral temperature fluctuates regularly & often largely in response to ambient temperature, core temperature must be maintained within a tight window in order for the human body to function properly. Throughout the course of circadian rhythm, the body’s core temperature can fluctuate by up…

It is an important and interesting question on how feelings and emotions emerge inside our human bodies. It is a known and general fact that emotions come from the brain, yet it is also evident that specific areas of brain are responsible for productions of feelings. In order to better understand the production mechanism, it is vital to get deeper into the brain’s emotional map and examine particular areas. One of these specialized areas of central interest is the amygdala that is responsible…

battle anorexia or bulimia” (Khorram, 2012). The complete explanation behind eating disorders is unknown, but they are believed to be the result of both biological and social factors. Possible biological causes include “a chemical imbalance in the hypothalamus or pituitary gland, perhaps brought on by genetic factors”(Feldman, 2015, p. 300) and the differences in how information about food is processed in the brain. Society also plays a role in the “valuation of slenderness and the parallel…

Chapter One : The myths that we “debunked” during lecture are really important. In the beginning we learned how to understand these cases and how to look for other sources to prove them wrong. When we finished reviewing these myths, it left me mindblown! I learned lots of information on how opposites attract, the lie detector test, and different learning styles. The scientific method is something that we should have learned about in elementary school but we reviewed it again because these are…

In a distant land that goes by the name of Wentzylvania you never know what you can expect. Most days you'll feel as though Wentzylvania is just an ordinary town with no type of issue to ever come about. Then there are days like today where everything seems to be going great until the super villain "Hypo Fist" arrives. Today I was on my way to the office but then I heard police sirens and shrieks of horror coming from the center of town. I suddenly follow the noise to see what the commotion is…