Medulla – The Hindbrain is located close to the spinal cord. Its primary job is to keep us alive and to coordinate movement. It has three subdivisions. At the base of the brain where it meets the spinal cord is the deepest part of the hindbrain. This is the subdivisionContinue Reading
Studies have shown that people have a personality, thinking style, and a method of doing things that is either left-brain or right-brain. What is meant by this theory? The theory is that people predominantly utilize one side of their brain more than the other side. People who are analytical, methodical,Continue Reading
The Midbrain and Hindbrain together form the brainstem. The Midbrain is subdivided into two parts whose subspecialties are critical for sensory-motor integration, neurotransmitter production and body movement. Tectum The roof of the Midbrain is known as the Tectum and has two bumps which are the sensory-motor integration centers. These twoContinue Reading
Oxytocin (OXT) and Arginine Vasopressin (AVP) are hormones that are released from the posterior pituitary gland in the brain. They are released during sexual activity and in large quantities during orgasm. They are implicated in giving the experience a quality of satisfaction. It is also an important component of theContinue Reading
What causes our brain to be addicted? The human brain contains billions of special cells called neurons making up its complex communication network. The neurons exchange signals throughout the brain and our entire body. All of our thoughts, feelings, perceptions, emotions, and drives travel through our neurons. Each neuron resemblesContinue Reading
Serotonin is the brain chemical involved in mood disorders, anxiety, body temperature, appetite, and emotional euphoria. Low levels of Serotonin in women may make them more likely to become depressed while low levels of Serotonin in men is more likely to make them impulsive and aggressive. Increasing the level ofContinue Reading
Our brain produces natural or Endogenous Opiates (endorphins), that are involved in pain relief and reinforcement. These affect a man’s feelings when seeing an attractive woman – different from the feelings he derives from an orgasm. Sexual Arousal vs Euphoria The chemical difference between the two feelings is produced becauseContinue Reading
The word “hormone” finds its root origin within the ancient Greek work “horman” meaning to impel or set in motion, or to excite and stimulate. Hormones are chemical substances secreted into the blood stream by special glands located throughout our body, and comprise the complex endocrine system. Hormones are essentialContinue Reading
Our behavior is not solely a product of our brain and nervous system. The endocrine glands serve as a great communication system of the body. The Endocrine System is comprised of glands that pour chemicals directly into the blood stream or lymph system. These chemicals called hormones are carried throughoutContinue Reading
The Hypothalamus lies just below (Hypo) the Thalamus and at the top front of the brain stem in the Limbic System. The Hypothalamus monitors blood flow, hunger, and blood chemistry glucose. It controls the adjacent “master gland” or Pituitary Gland, which in turn influences the release of hormones by otherContinue Reading