PSYCH 3F03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Evolutionary Medicine, Robert Sapolsky, Adrenal Gland
3 Mar 2017
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Document Summary
Medicine deals with our bodies and our brains; understanding our evolution improves medicine. Concept of what is/isn"t a disorder isn"t resolved. Subordinate baboons are extremely stressed and higher rates of poor health. Chronic mobilization of the stress-response can prove pathogenic . Sympathetic nervous system sends signals to adrenal gland -> catecholamine"s: energy mobilized, alertness, blood flow, respiration, region-specific changes (pain, perception, energy) Hypothalamus releases corticotropin releasing hormone (crh) -> adrenal gland -> glucocorticoids: cortisol (humans, corticosterone (amphibians, reptiles, birds, non-human mammals, send signal back through hypothalamus to repress stress response, negative feedback. Graph: stressor causes glucocorticoid levels to increase from baseline to peak then returns back to baseline with relief of stress, in modern life we"re exposed to chronic stress causing prolonged exposure to glucocorticoid without relief; pathological. Help the organism deal with longer-term stressors than catecholamines: gluconeogenesis (generate glucose, breakdown muscle, bone to decrease proteins for metabolism. Supress growth, reproduction, immune function: reduce neurogenesis in the hippocampus.
