Hormones and behaviour Flashcards

1
Q

What are hormones?

A

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

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2
Q

Describe the relationshio between hormones and behaviour

A

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

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3
Q

Where is a hormone produced from?

A

Glands

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4
Q

Do all glands produce hormones?

A

No

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5
Q

What are exocrine glands?

A

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.

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6
Q

What are endocrine glands?

A

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

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7
Q

What are hormones effect on target cells?

A

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

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8
Q

Do hormones change cells morphology and size?

A

Yes

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9
Q

What does the responsiveness of target cells depend on?

A
  • hormone concentration
  • Number of target receptors
  • Influence of other hormones
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10
Q

What is positive feedback?

A

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)

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11
Q

What is negative feedback?

A

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.

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12
Q

Name the steps of the positive feedback loop

A
  1. Endocrine gland
  2. Hormone
  3. Target tissue
  4. Product
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13
Q

What is a hormonally dependent behaviour?

A
  1. It should dissapear when hormone action is blcoked or removed
  2. Restoration of missing hormonal sources should reinsate absent behaviour
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14
Q

What should the relationship between hormones and behaviour look like?

A

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

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15
Q

What is hormone clearance?

A

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

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16
Q

How are hormones excreted?

A

By bile or urine

17
Q

When do hormones influence cells?

A

Hormones only influence cells with receptors specific to them

18
Q

Receptors bind to ..

A

Hormones with high affinity and specificity

19
Q

What does high affinity mean?

A

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

20
Q

What does high specificity mean?

A
  • 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
21
Q

What does up regulation of receptors mean?

A
  • 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

22
Q

What is down regulation?

A
  • Decrease production of receptors which lowers sensitivity
  • Hormones may regualte receptors from other hormones
23
Q

Describe stress as an example of down regulation

A
  • 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
24
Q

What are protien hormones?

A
  • 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.
25
Q

Where are protien hormones stored?

A

in endocrine cells before release into the bloodstream

26
Q

What are monoamine hormones?

A
  • Derived from a single amino acid (e.g. serotin)
  • Can act as hormones or neurotransmitters
27
Q

What is the difference between hormones and neurotransmitters?

A
  • Hormones act on distant target cells wehn released into the blood
  • neurotransmitters act locally
28
Q

What are Steroid hormones?

A
  • They are produced primarily by the gonads (testes and ovaries), adrenal glands, and placenta during pregnancy
  • Slow acting e.g. cortisol, testosterone
29
Q

Describe the structure of steroid hormones

A

Charcterised by 3 six carbon rings and 1 five carbon ring

30
Q

What are steriod hormones synthesised from?

A
  • steroid hormones are synthesized from cholesterol as needed and are released immediately into the bloodstream.
31
Q

How do steroid hormones travel through the blood?

A
  • 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.
32
Q

Are steroid hormones soluable?

A

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

33
Q

How do protien hormones travel?

A

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

34
Q

What is a neuron?

A
  • 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.
35
Q

What do neurons do?

A
  • Travel along exisiting nerve tracks
  • Messages have rapid onset and offset taking place in ms!!
36
Q

Do we have voluntary control over neurons?

A

yes, subject to voluntary movement

37
Q

What are hormones?

A

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

38
Q

What do hormones do?

A
  • Travel throughout the body via the circulatory system
  • Effects may take minutes or hours to manifest and last longer
39
Q

Do we have control over hormones?

A

No - there is no voluntary control over the release