Hormones and behaviour

Question 1

What are hormones?

Answer 1

Chemical messengers are released into the bloodstream
- Affect the function of target cells at a distance from the source

Question 2

Describe the relationshio between hormones and behaviour

Answer 2

Hormones may influence sensory, central processing, and output systems
- Hormones do not directly cause behaviour but change the probbaility of certain responses

Question 3

Where is a hormone produced from?

Answer 3

Glands

Question 4

Do all glands produce hormones?

Answer 4

No

Question 5

What are exocrine glands?

Answer 5

Exocrine glands release substances such as sweat, saliva, or digestive enzymes through ducts to the body’s surface or into cavities, like the digestive tract.

Question 6

What are endocrine glands?

Answer 6

Endocrine glands release hormones directly into the bloodstream to regulate bodily functions like metabolism, growth, and reproduction.

Question 7

What are hormones effect on target cells?

Answer 7

Hormones interact with receptors, leading to activation of enzymaticc pathways or changes in gene expression and protien synthesis

Question 8

Do hormones change cells morphology and size?

Answer 8

Yes

Question 9

What does the responsiveness of target cells depend on?

Answer 9

• hormone concentration
• Number of target receptors
• Influence of other hormones

Question 10

What is positive feedback?

Answer 10

Maintains or accelerates the direction of a stimulus - e.g. Childbirth contractions
- There is an end goal, this loop hwill continue until finished product (baby is out for example)

Question 11

What is negative feedback?

Answer 11

opposes the direction of a stimulus e.g. insulin release
- Negative feedback in hormones is like a thermostat controlling room temperature.
- When the temperature rises above a set level, the thermostat kicks in, turning off the heater to bring the temperature back down.
- Similarly, in negative feedback, when hormone levels in the body get too high, it triggers a response to decrease hormone production. - Conversely, if hormone levels drop too low, it prompts the body to increase hormone production, maintaining a balanced level for proper function.

Question 12

Name the steps of the positive feedback loop

Answer 12

1. Endocrine gland
2. Hormone
3. Target tissue
4. Product

Question 13

What is a hormonally dependent behaviour?

Answer 13

1. It should dissapear when hormone action is blcoked or removed
2. Restoration of missing hormonal sources should reinsate absent behaviour

Question 14

What should the relationship between hormones and behaviour look like?

Answer 14

Covariant - hormone concentrations and the behaviour should be covarain
e.g. if testosterone is rising, assertive behaviour should increase

Question 15

What is hormone clearance?

Answer 15

When hormones are broken down by enzymes, the liver, and bloodstream disintergration

Question 16

How are hormones excreted?

Answer 16

By bile or urine

Question 17

When do hormones influence cells?

Answer 17

Hormones only influence cells with receptors specific to them

Question 18

Receptors bind to ..

Answer 18

Hormones with high affinity and specificity

Question 19

What does high affinity mean?

Answer 19

a strong ability to bind to its receptors, enabling it to exert powerful and sustained effects on target cells and tissues

Question 20

What does high specificity mean?

Answer 20

• Means that it primarily interacts with a particular type of receptor, producing a specific biological response.
• This specificity ensures that the hormone’s effects are targeted and precise, influencing only the cells and tissues equipped with the specific receptor for that hormone

Question 21

What does up regulation of receptors mean?

Answer 21

• Increased production when you need more

Example:
oxytocin in preganncy - receptors on uterus lining, contracting muscles
- This increased sensitivity to oxytocin helps to ensure that uterine contractions become stronger and more coordinated as labor approaches, facilitating the process of childbirth
-> example of positive feedback loop
- This is also applied to the mammarly glands
Up-regulation of oxytocin receptors in the mammary glands ensures that when oxytocin is released in response to suckling by the newborn

Question 22

What is down regulation?

Answer 22

• Decrease production of receptors which lowers sensitivity
• Hormones may regualte receptors from other hormones

Question 23

Describe stress as an example of down regulation

Answer 23

• During periods of chronic stress, the body may down-regulate the sensitivity or number of receptors for stress hormones like cortisol.
• cells in the hippocampus, a brain region involved in stress regulation,** may reduce the number of glucocorticoid receptors**.
• This down-regulation helps to dampen the body’s stress response and prevent excessive activation of stress pathways, which can be harmful if prolonge

Question 24

What are protien hormones?

Answer 24

• Protein hormones are messengers made of amino acids, released by glands like the pituitary and pancreas.
• They travel through the blood, bind to cell receptors, and trigger reactions, regulating functions like growth and metabolism.
• Examples include insulin and growth hormone.

Question 25

Where are protien hormones stored?

Answer 25

in endocrine cells before release into the bloodstream

Question 26

What are monoamine hormones?

Answer 26

- Derived from a single amino acid (e.g. serotin) - Can act as hormones or neurotransmitters

Question 27

What is the difference between hormones and neurotransmitters?

Answer 27

- Hormones act on distant target cells wehn released into the blood - neurotransmitters act locally

Question 28

What are Steroid hormones?

Answer 28

- They are produced primarily by the gonads (testes and ovaries), adrenal glands, and placenta during pregnancy - Slow acting e.g. cortisol, testosterone

Question 29

Describe the structure of steroid hormones

Answer 29

Charcterised by 3 six carbon rings and 1 five carbon ring

Question 30

What are steriod hormones synthesised from?

Answer 30

- steroid hormones are synthesized from cholesterol as needed and are released immediately into the bloodstream.

Question 31

How do steroid hormones travel through the blood?

Answer 31

- They travel through the bloodstream bound to carrier proteins, which help to regulate their distribution and protect them from rapid degradation. - Upon reaching target tissues, they can freely diffuse across cell membranes to bind to their specific receptors and initiate cellular responses.

Question 32

Are steroid hormones soluable?

Answer 32

No - require carrier protiens to travel in the bloodstream - they bind to receptors inside the target cells

Question 33

How do protien hormones travel?

Answer 33

They cant pass through plasma membranes - They bind to receptors on the target cell surface

Question 34

What is a neuron?

Answer 34

- A specialized cell in the nervous system that is responsible for transmitting information in the form of electrical signals. - Neurons are the basic building blocks of the nervous system and play a vital role in processing and transmitting information throughout the body.

Question 35

What do neurons do?

Answer 35

- Travel along exisiting nerve tracks - Messages have rapid onset and offset taking place in ms!!

Question 36

Do we have voluntary control over neurons?

Answer 36

yes, subject to voluntary movement

Question 37

What are hormones?

Answer 37

Hormones are messengers in your body that carry important instructions. They're made by glands and travel through your bloodstream to reach specific organs or tissues

Question 38

What do hormones do?

Answer 38

- Travel throughout the body via the circulatory system - Effects may take minutes or hours to manifest and last longer

Question 39

Do we have control over hormones?

Answer 39

No - there is no voluntary control over the release