Psychology / Unit 2: The Brain and Behavior
2.5 The Endocrine System and Studying the Brain
Notes
The endocrine system is a set of glands that release hormones into the bloodstream. Hormones act more slowly than neural messages but last longer.
- Pituitary gland: the "master gland"; controls other glands and growth.
- Adrenal glands: release adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol during stress.
- Thyroid: controls metabolism. Pancreas: controls blood sugar with insulin. Gonads (ovaries, testes): sex hormones.
- Tools to study the brain: EEG (electrical activity), MRI (detailed structure), fMRI (activity by blood flow), CT (X-ray images of structure), PET (activity using a tracer).
- Neuroplasticity: the brain can change and form new connections with experience.
Practice
Which gland is often called the "master gland"?
The pituitary controls many other endocrine glands.
A researcher wants to see which brain areas are active while a student solves a puzzle. Which tool is most appropriate?
fMRI shows activity by tracking blood flow.
Compared with neural messages, hormone messages are generally:
Hormones travel in blood, so they act more slowly but have longer effects.
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