Damage to the Hypothalamus Essay -- Neurology Brain Disorders Papers

â€Å"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 â€Å"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 â€Å"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... ...al Cancer Institute: Social work’s contribution to research on cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and surviviorship. Washington, D.C. www.iaswresearch.org. 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