Behavioral endocrinology is a branch of endocrinology that studies the Neuroendocrine system and its effects on behavior.[1] Behavioral endocrinology studies the biological mechanisms that produce behaviors, this gives insight into the evolutionary past.[2] The field has roots in ethology, endocrinology and psychology.[3]
The neuroendocrine system is an integrated system composed of neurons, glands and non-endocrine tissues, and the hormones and neurochemicals they produce and receive collectively regulate physiological or behavioral state.[4]
The hypothalamus is a distinct part of the brain that is made up of neurons and its main purpose is to maintain homeostasis.[5] The hypothalamus also plays an important part in survival of the individual by integrating the interactions between hormonal and behavioral processes, such as, eating behavior and aggressive behavior.[5]
The pituitary gland located in the brain is a major system in neuroendocrine system because the secretion of hormones from the anterior pituitary is directly regulated by the central nervous system.[6]
Neuroendocrine regulation of behavior
Social behavior, reproductive behavior, moods, feelings, attitudes, development and survival are affected by the neuroendocrine system and studied in the field of behavioral endocrinology.[2][7]
Thyroid hormones are responsible for controlling metabolism, nervous system, body temperature and development of several organ systems such as the reproductive system.
Behavioral endocrinology has roots in ethology and is also seen as a combination of endocrinology and psychology. Like ethology, behavioral endocrinology focuses on behavior on the level of the whole organism. The invention of radioimmunoassay techniques revolutionized behavioral endocrinology, allowing scientists to see and quantify hormones. The field historically resists reductionist thinking and focuses on the physiological aspects of behavior. [3]
^ abWelling, Lisa L. M.; Shackelford, Todd K. (2019-05-09), "Future Directions in Human Behavioral Endocrinology", The Oxford Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology and Behavioral Endocrinology, Oxford University Press, pp. 432–441, doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190649739.013.22, ISBN9780190649739
^ abHennig, J. (2001-01-01), "Hypothalamus", in Smelser, Neil J.; Baltes, Paul B. (eds.), International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, Pergamon, pp. 7113–7118, ISBN9780080430768, retrieved 2019-10-07
^Goodman, H. Maurice (2009-01-01), Goodman, H. Maurice (ed.), "Chapter 2 - Pituitary Gland", Basic Medical Endocrinology (Fourth Edition), Academic Press, pp. 29–42, ISBN9780123739759, retrieved 2019-10-07
^Welling, Lisa L. M.; Shackelford, Todd K. (2019). Welling, Lisa L. M.; Shackelford, Todd K. (eds.). The Oxford handbook of evolutionary psychology and behavioral endocrinology. Oxford library of psychology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-064973-9. OCLC1033551068.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)