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Intro to Brain and Behavior > Chapter 16: Hypothalamus > Flashcards

Chapter 16: Hypothalamus Flashcards

1
Q

Where in the neural tube is the hypothalamus found?

A

Diencephalon

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2
Q

What does the hypothalamus do?

A

It mediates homeostasis

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3
Q

What is homeostasis?

A

The balanced functioning of physiological processes and maintenance of an organism’s internal environment within a narrow range
Ex. Temperature, Blood pressure

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4
Q

How is the hypothalamic nuclei divided?

A

Into three regions
Periventricular area
Medial Hypothalamic area
Lateral Hypothalamic area

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5
Q

What is in the periventricular area of the hypothalamus?

A

Periventricular nucleus

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6
Q

What is in the medual hypothalamic area of the hypothalamus?

A

It is divided into 4 regions from rostral to caudal
Preoptic area
Anterior (supraoptic) region
Middle (tuberal) region
Posterior (mammillary) region

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7
Q

What is in the lateral hypothalamic area of the hypothalamus?

A

Lateral preoptic nucleus
Lateral hypothalamic nucleus

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8
Q

How does the hypothalamus mediate homeostasis?

A

By controlling autonomic nervous system, endocrine system and motivated homeostatic behaviors (feeding, drinking)

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9
Q

What is the hypothalamic control of the posterior pituitary?

A

Magnocellular neurosecretory cells
Secrete two hormones into a capillary bed in the posterior pituitary
Oxytocin and Vasopressin

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10
Q

What is oxytocin?

A

Uterine contractions
Milk letdown reflex
The “love hormone”
Levels rise during sexual behavior
Promotes social bonding

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11
Q

What is vasopressin?

A

(Antidiuretic hormone, ADH)
Regulates blood volume
Salt concentration

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12
Q

What is the hypothalamic control of the anterior pituitary?

A

Parvocellular neurosecretory cells
Secrete releasing hormones into the hypothalamic-pituitary portal circulation
Release or stop releasing hormones into blood

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13
Q

What happens to the body by the release of cortisol during stress response?

A

Releases glucose into your bloodstream
Increases blood pressure for increased physical activity
Stimulates brain for more intense awareness
Immune system activity is reduced to save energy for physical activity

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14
Q

What are the steps of the HPA axis?

A
  1. Stress is felt in the hypothalamus
  2. Parvocellular neurosecretory neurons release corticotropic-releasing hormone (CRH)
  3. Anterior pituitary releases ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone)
  4. ACTH acts on adrenal cortex. Adrenal cortex releases cortisol
  5. Cortisol inhibits CRH release when the stress response is over.
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15
Q

What does the hypothalamus control?

A

Endocrine System
Autonomic Nervous System
Motivated Homeostatic Behaviors

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16
Q

What is the autonomic nervous system?

A

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic

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17
Q

What is the sympathetic nervous system?

A

Fight or Flight response
thoracolumbar is where efferents originate

18
Q

What is the parasympathetic nervous system?

A

Rest and digest
craniosacral is where efferents originate

19
Q

What processes do the efferents of the SNS go through to get to smooth muscle?

A

SNS pre-ganglion cell release ACh to post ganglion cell. Post-ganglion cell releases NE to smooth muscle

20
Q

What processes do the efferents of the PNS go through to get to smooth muscle?

A

PNS pre-ganglion cell releases ACho post ganglion cell. Post-ganglion cell releases ACh to smooth muscle

21
Q

What is anabolism?

A

When the blood is filled with nutrients

22
Q

How is energy stored?

A

Glycogen in liver and skeletal muscle
Triglycerides in fat

23
Q

What is catabolism?

A

During fasting; between meals

24
Q

How do we get energy?

A

Stored glycogen and triglycerides are broken down to provide body with a continuous supply of molecules for fuel

25
What is the normal feeding behavior?
Energy reserves are replenished at same average rate that they are expended intake=expenditure
26
What part does body weight play?
Body weight maintained through complex mechanisms ensuring a constant supply of energy for cellular functions
27
What is leptin?
A hormone that communicates with the brain about fat reserves
28
What is parabiosis?
Anatomical and physiological union of two animals
29
What does the arcuate nucleus do?
Can sense leptin levels Controls paraventricular nucleus Controls lateral hypothalamic area
30
What is the effects of decreased leptin levels on hypothalamus?
Arcuate neurons responding to decreased leptin release the peptide transmitters NPY and AgRP. Increase of NPY and AgRP stimulate feeding behavior Decrease metabolism Decrease energy expenditure
31
What is the effects of elevated leptin levels on hypothalamus?
Arcuate neurons responding to elevated leptin release the peptide transmitters αMSH and CART. Increase in αMSH and CART inhibit feeding behavior. Increase Metabolism Increase energy expenditure
32
What is the modulatory system for NE?
Core: Locus Coeruleus in Pons Role: Attention, Arousal, Sleep-wake Goes to most of the neocortex
33
What is the modulatory system for serotonin 5-HT?
Core: Raphe nuclei in Brainstem Role: Arousal, sleep-wake, pain, mood Goes to most of the neocortex
34
What is the modulatory system for ACh?
Core: Basal forebrain complex: for arousal, sleep-wake, learning and memory Core: Parabrachial nucleus pons: regulates excitability of sensory thalamic nuclei
35
What is the modulatory system for DA?
Substantia nigra- facilitates initiation of movement Ventral tegmental area- reinforces adaptive behaviors
36
What does the ventral tegmental area (VTA) do?
Determines the nature of stimuli as rewarding or aversive and sends signals to the nucleus accumbens
37
What are the three potential models of obesity?
Passive Overconsumption Reverse Causality Hedonic Overdrive
38
What is passive overconsumption?
Overconsume calories passively during the day which leads to weight gain
39
What is reverse causality?
People with more adipose cells need more calories to support metabolism. This leads to a positive feedback loop and drives weight gain
40
What is hedonic overdrive?
Overconsume calories because the rewarding quality of food overrides any homoeostatic intake regulation

Intro to Brain and Behavior (17 decks)

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