Why Do We Eat: New Insight into the Role of Brain Neurotransmitters
Eating has taken its toll on people who live in the United States. One of the largest problems that people have is deciding how much to eat and what is healthy to eat. It was determined in the 1930s-1940s that the brain has a tremendous impact in controlling our eating habits. The main part of the brain, which controls this, is the hypothalamus. Basically, the hypothalamus measures different levels through out the body, especially in the stomach, to determine if our body needs food, which causes the sensation of hunger.
Neurotransmitters are responsible for sending signals to and from the brain to certain parts of the body. There are many different neurotransmitters, which have been studied that have an influence on a person’s eating inhibitory. Some of these neurotransmitters include norepinephrine, pancreatic polypeptide, galanin, opioid peptides, glumate, and gherlin.
The study presented in this presentation focus on four different aspects of the influence of neurotransmitters that have an influence on eating. The first aspect is a 36 amino acid peptide transmitter known as the NPY. The NPY contains five different receptors; Y1, Y2, Y4, Y5, and Y6. Y2 is specifically geared towards memory. Y5 pertains to eating. Y6 is found in some animals, but not really found in humans. The Y1 and Y5 receptors are specifically for eating. The more NPY found within the body, the more a person would eat. A question, which was presented in this presentation, was if certain areas of the brain could be identified as being responsive to the metabolic action of the NPY. In order to study this idea, and experiment was performed where NPY was injected directly into different target areas. From this, it was shown that there were specific areas of the brain that responded to the levels of NPY differently.
The second aspect of this presentation was the 5-HT Receptor Antagonist. These antagonists are capable of decreasing the effect of NPY levels within the body. One antagonist, in particular, was shown to have a great effect on NPY effect, known as DOI. It was found that DOI blocks NYP responses inside the brain. One specific part of DOI was signaled out as being responsible for the blockage of NPY, known as 2A. Even though the DOI is able to decrease the sense of hunger, it is not used in humans because it causes very bad after effects, especially great nausea.
lack of hunger. Thus with the help of researchers and psychologist we can look into it more
Portion control is psychologically proven to lessen or limit an individual’s intake of any food. According to Dr. Katherine Appleton (2014), any given amount of food over the recommended serving size will be finished by an individual because it is considered normal to finish a plate for a meal. If the amount of food were to be changed, the amount of intake would change as well. This psychology study is based off of an individual’s perception on what is considered “a normal serving size” (Appleton, 2014). Portion control requires self discipline, but if Pam were to regulate her serving sizes, she could greatly decrease her caloric
Stimulation of 5HT1 receptors is associated with an inhibitory response while stimulation of the 5HT2 receptors is associated with an excitatory response. Soma of the serotonergic neurons are located in the midline raphe nuclei of the pons and in the medulla oblongata. Axons extend to the basal ganglia, hypothalamus, limbic forebrain, parts of the cerebral cortex, and to the spinal cord (Kruk and Pycock 1979). Functions believed to be moderated by serotonin include sleep, mood, arousal, control of motor activity, hunger, thermoregulation, and some neuroendocrine control mechanisms in the hypothalamus. (Powell 2004, Kruk and Pycock 1979).
When tryptophan enters the body in the presence of pyridoxine (B6), it is converted into 5-Hydroxy L-Tryptophan, or 5-HTP. This, in turn, converts into seratonin, a neurotransmitter. Neurotransmitters are extremely important at the neurochemical and physiological level, as they carry impulses between nerve cells. Seratonin can be converted into melatonin, which regulates the sleep wake cycle. Elevated levels of seratonin are credited with relief of depression, reduced pain sensitivity, lessened anxiety and stress, and a feeling of calm and sleepiness.
It is difficult to treat if patients don’t gain weight. This documentary film described that fifty percent of individuals will relapse in the first year if normal weight has not be achieved prior to leaving treatment. Treatment requires a multidisciplinary team approach. In addition to restriction many patients also increase activity levels. The film also examined individuals that have Exercise Anorexia. In conclusion the documentary pointed out the disorders have links to Anxiety. They stated that Prozac and Paxil have been found helpful in treating patients. They noted that Bulimia is linked to depression. The film also described a research study conducted to examine satiety related to food and CCK Cholecystokinin disturbed digestion in individuals with eating disorders. CCK is a digestive hormone that stimulates fat and protein digestion, and promotes the feeling of satiety. The film also stated that it takes years to fully recover from
In class we have frequently discussed the I-function and how it relates to the body and the brain. Is the I-function a separate soul? Is it simply an extension of our DNA and genes? In addition, we have fretted over the I-function and its relationship to our behavior or personality. Where exactly the I-function is, we have also wondered. In this paper I will explore personality, the I-function and their relationship to genes and chemical changes that take place within the body. I will mainly look at how neurotransmitters affect overall happiness in an individual. How these chemicals are regulated by genes and by the environment, will also be questioned. Overall I will look at what makes us who we are. Are we simply programmed for life by our genes or do they even matter at all?
In the brainstem, the most primitive part of the brain, lie clusters of serotonin neurons. The nerve fiber terminals of the serotonergic neurons extend all throughout the central nervous system from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord. This neurotransmitter is responsible for controlling fundamental physiological aspects of the body. In the central nervous system (CNS), serotonin has widespread and often profound implications, including a role in sleep, appetite, memory, learning, temperature regulation, mood, sexual behavior, cardiovascular function, muscle contraction, and endocrine regulation. Not only does this bioamine control physiological aspects of the body, but it also has an involvement in behaviors like eating, sleeping and aggression. Serotonin has been noted to produce an inhibitory effect on the nervous system that calms, soothes and generates feelings of general contentment and satiation.
Neurotransmitters can also produce their effects by modulating the production of other signal-transducing molecules ("second messengers"messengers") in the post-synaptic cells (Cooper, Bloom and Roth 1996). Nine compounds -- belonging to three chemical families -- are generally believed to function as neurotransmitters somewhere in the central nervous system (CNS) or periphery. In addition, certain other body chemicals, for example adenosine, histamine, enkephalins, endorphins, and epinephrine, have neurotransmitter-like properties, and many additional true neurotransmitters may await discovery.
Controlling when and what you eat is an almost human
Most people consume a high carbohydrate breakfast of cereal, toast or pancakes after a night's sleep because the body craves those types of food when its blood sugar level is low. However, meals high in carbohydrates increase the brain's level of the amino acid tryptophan, which increases serotonin levels. Glucose from the digested carbohydrates causes the body to secret insulin. Insulin tells cells to pull amino acids, except tryptophan, out of the blood stream for storage. So, tryptophan keeps circulating and is available for neurons that use it to make serotonin. Serotonin is a calming neurotransmitter that makes you feel relaxed and satisfied. Serotonin is an essential neurotransmitter for a well-...
Lola needs larger and larger doses of the street drug in order to feel the drug's effect because it is affecting the synaptic transmission within her brain's nervous system. The synapse plays a big part in how neurons communicate in the body since the tiny gap at its junction, called the synaptic gap, is where neurotransmitters cross to another neuron to ensure the neuron will generate a neural impulse. It is very possible that the drug is an antagonist that is inhibiting or blocking certain neurotransmitters in her body to cross the synaptic gap and bind to sites on the receiving neuron. Without this binding, the neurotransmitter cannot fire, which will affect its purpose/action in the body. If this drug is an antagonist to the neurotransmitter
Overeating affects a high number of people, especially with the increasing use of food additives to create ‘repeat appeal’ (also known as addiction). However, there are specific criteria that characterize a binge eating disorder:
Serotonin, or 5-hyrdroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a neurotransmitter involved in many brain and body functions. It is commonly known as the substance of well-being and happiness. Serotonin is produced in specialized neurons found mostly in the Raphe nuclei located along the midline of the brainstem. The axons of these neurons form extensive serotonergic pathways that reach almost every part of the central nervous system, including the cerebellum and the spinal cord. This is why it’s not surprising that serotonin is implicated in a vast array of brain functions including sleep and wake cycle, appetite, mood regulation, memory and learning, temperature control, among others.
We all know why we tend to eat a lot of food – it’s because we get hungry. Some of us get hungry more often than others, and this directly ties in to how often we are accustomed to eating. In our society, it’s common to have large breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, along with desserts
The addiction to food can lead to many health issues and concerns to an individual, though a common concern is eating disorders. Individuals