THE BRAIN FRAME – FROM MOLECULES TO BEHAVIOUR
Since the beginning of time, behaviour of acquaintances, friends and family has been a matter of intenseinterest. Behavioural issues have, since then, imposed threats to human race as either evil spirits or insidiousoffences. To address these concerns, social, theological and scientific communities...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dow University of Health Sciences
2015-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of the Dow University of Health Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://www.jduhs.com/index.php/jduhs/article/view/262 |
| Summary: | Since the beginning of time, behaviour of acquaintances, friends and family has been a matter of intenseinterest. Behavioural issues have, since then, imposed threats to human race as either evil spirits or insidiousoffences. To address these concerns, social, theological and scientific communities have played a vivid role,bringing to light the underlying secrets of their respective domains. Present literature shall highlight therevelations made by the scientific community regarding behaviour. According to science, behaviour is theoutcome of multiple processes taking place within the body as influenced by the external environment. Theexternal environment includes the behaviour of fellow beings, the weather and the environment (political,economic, social and technological). The food we eat shapes the internal chemical environment by providingmaterials to the available genetic and molecular base of the body. The molecules of the body include hormones,enzymes as well as energy providing substances like carbohydrates and fats, and structure making molecules,proteins. Any change in the external or internal body environment that imposes a demand to adapt is knownas stress. Acute stress is controlled and the body adapts under the influence of physiological changes includingthe cortisol related cascade on top of the list. Chronic stress is beyond the physiological control leading toexhaustion of the adaptation process. This may lead to depression finally. The cortisol cascade is a multidimensional pathway beginning from the brain (hypothalamus) that perceives the stress signal and regulatesthe release of the effector, cortisol from the adrenal gland. Cortisol before it reaches a level that stimulatesthe negative feedback loop plays a vital role in the regulation of metabolisms as well as in the control of therelease of other hormones like epinephrine and insulin. This regulation by cortisol ultimately has its role inthe synthesis of brain neurotransmitter serotonin that has a known affect on behaviour. |
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| ISSN: | 1995-2198 2410-2180 |