Damage to the Hypothalamus

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“The hypothalamus is a small area near the base of the

brain just ventral to the thalamus” (Kalat 90). It makes up

about 1/300 total brain weight in humans, and it is about the

size of an almond (www.factmonster.com). Since the hypothalamus

is attached to the pituitary gland, which is considered the

“master gland,” the hypothalamus is the structure which actually

has master control over promoting or inhibiting hormone release,

affecting many glands (Kalat 327). The main function of the

hypothalamus is to regulate homeostasis, but its wide range of

control affects the generation of behaviors involved in eating,

drinking, temperature regulation, sexual behavior, copulation,

maternal behavior, general arousal, activity level, the sleep-

wake cycle, and emotional regulation of rage, aggression,

embarrassment, escape from danger in “fight or flight”

responses, and pleasure (www.geocities.com). When the

hypothalamus is damaged, specific behavior changes occur

dependent on the lesion location on the hypothalamus. The

affects of such behavior changes can affect a person’s life to

such a degree that a social worker is needed for emotional,

informational, familial, economic, and environmental support

(www.iaswresearch.org).

The hypothalamus controls the pituitary, which consists of

two major glands: anterior pituitary and the posterior pituitary

(which can be considered an extension of the hypothalamus). The

hypothalamus synthesizes the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin,

which are transported to their terminals in the posterior

pituitary, and then released in the blood (Kalat 327). Oxytocin

controls uterine contractions, milk release, certain aspects of

parental behavior, and...

... middle of paper ...

...al Cancer Institute: Social

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Kalat, J.W. (2004). Biological Psychology. Canada:

Wadsworth, Thomson Learning Inc.

Taking Time: Support For People With Cancer and the People

Who Care About Them (2001). U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services. National Institutes of Health: National

Cancer Institute.

Taylor, S.E., Falke, R.L., Shoptaw, S.J., Steven, J., &

Lichtman, R.R. (1986). Social support, support groups, and

the cancer patient. Journal of Consulting and Clinical

Psychology, 54(5), 608-615.

www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0824782.html

www.geocities.com/hhugs2001/roleofhyp.htm

www.heumann.org/body.of.knowledge/k1/hypothalamus.html

www.naswdc.org/research/news/120903.asp

www.webmd.com

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