3.3: The Endocrine System

3.3: The Endocrine System

• The internal organs and glands are controlled by the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system.

• Some students think that this chapter is better in a biology class than in a psychology class.

• There are hormones that affect certain organs.
• They're slower in their actions than neurotransmitters because they're carried through our blood vessels rather than our nerves.
• We can think of hormonal messages as similar to snail mail and neurotransmitter messages as similar to e-mail.

• Scientists now realize that it depends on the actions of other chemical released into the glands.
• The hypothalamus controls it.
• The hormones that serve numerous functions are influenced by the vari bloodstream that is released by the pituitary glands.

• The hypothalamus plays an essential role in maternal and romantic love, so much so that it has been called the "love molecule" or "cuddle hormone".
• The males of one species of voles are promiscuous and the males of the other species are devoted to one partner for the rest of their lives.

• The expectation of reward is influenced by the dopamine system in the brains of the loyal voles.
• Remaining faithful is a labor of love for male voles.

• How much we trust others is influenced by how much roxtocin we have.
• In one study, men were more likely to hand over money to their partners in a risky investment game if they were exposed to a spray containing oxytocin, than if they were not.

• The phrases "love molecule" and "cuddle hormone" are overstated, suggesting that the effects of oxytocin on trust and attachment aren't simple.
• The most overhyped molecule in psychology may be oxytocin.
• Although it makes us better at treating people within our favored groups, it makes us worse at treating outsiders.
• The risk of intimate violence is increased among people who are already aggressive.
• Scientists think that oxytocin increases our sensitivity to social cues for both good and bad.

• The prairie vole on the left and the montane vole on the right differ in their personalities when it comes to romance.
• The male prairie vole is loyal to one partner, but the male montane vole is not.

• Their oxytocin systems are different.

• During states of emotional arousal, the sympathetic nervous system sends signals to the adrenal glands.
• Adrenaline causes constriction of our blood vessels to provide more blood to the body, as well as opening the bronchioles of the lungs to allow more air to be breathed, and providing us with more fuel.

• Adrenaline allows people to perform amazing feats in crisis situations, but they are constrained by physical limitations.
• A mother was so desperate to save her baby that she lifted a heavy automobile to do it.

• If the rhinoceros suddenly charged at the three stimuli to prepare us for a fight or flight.

• Race car driving, skydiving, and other exciting activities can produce huge adrenaline rushes.

• Children with conduct problems, like lying, cheating, and stealing, tend to have low levels of cortisol, suggesting that they aren't.
• In everyday life, anxiety is an essential emotion, often preventing us from engaging in tempting, but unethical, actions.
• TheCortisol regulates blood pressure and cardiovascular function.
• Some researchers think that cortisol regulates body weight.
• Cortisol produced by stress may contribute to weight gain.

• The testes in males and females are the sexual reproductive glands.
• Although males and females make different types of sex hormones, they both produce the same amount of testosterone.
• The ovaries and the adrenal glands make testosterone in both genders.

• Sex hormones and sex drive have been debated by scientists.
• Most scientists believe that testosterone increases sex drive in men but not in women.

• testosterone increases in sports fans when they watch others win.

• Men who watched the World Cup soccer matches had higher testosterone levels in their saliva if their favorite team won, but lower testosterone levels if their favorite team lost.