I’m trying to study for my Psychology course and I need some help to understand this question.

Your responses have no specific length requirements, but you need to refer to something in the student’s post, showing that you read it (something like “I agree” or “Interesting!” is not enough for the points). If you respond to a student that initially responded to you, that also counts as one of your responses (the idea is obviously to generate discussion here)

1. When the hypothalamus is damaged, whether by a brain tumor, a head injury, or during surgery, an individual may experience symptoms such as weight loss or weight gain, fatigue, impaired vision, anhedonia, cold body temperature, and chills. Damage to the hypothalamus can also lead to serious complications including osteoporosis, blindness, infertility, inability to breast feed, slowed development, increased stress, and high blood cholesterol which can result in heart problems (Wisse, 2019).

Patients with a damaged hypothalamus often experience problems with eating and can progress to an eating disorder called Anorexia Nervosa. The risk of heart disease is also increased because of the hypothalamus’ relation to the heart. When this part of the brain is not functioning properly, the body will struggle to carry out osmosis to reach homeostasis. It will also increase LDL blood cholesterol which is heavily associated with heart disease. Additionally, it can halter the secretion of hormones, which are used in nearly every body process (Ginnard et al., 2019). For example, the hormone melatonin is necessary to regulating sleep cycles, which is why damage to the hypothalamus can make it extremely difficult for an individual to fall asleep. Furthermore, it can limit the production of sex hormones which will affect one’s sex drive and their development.

These symptoms and related health problems upon injury to the hypothalamus demonstrate that the hypothalamus is heavily connected to the functioning of the heart, as well as basic functions (Hockenbury et al. 2016) like eating, reproduction, stress responses, regulating body temperature, hormone production, and growth and development.

2. Endogenous Morphine or simply endorphin is a hormone produced in pituitary gland located in hypothalamus. Release of neurotransmitter serves as a pain management mechanism and could be triggered by mental or physiological traumatic experience. Endorphins are active both in peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS). The most effective binding occurs in PNS with opioid mu-receptors that serve the role of nervous terminals and are responsible for deliverance of pain signals, although the effect on CNS is quite the opposite in approach. By blocking the same mu-receptors endorphins prevent the release of GABA in CNS, which as a result forces an increase in development of dopamine transmitters responsible for pleasurable sensations (Chaudhry et al., 2020).

Endorphins are classified in three types: alpha, beta, and gamma. Betta endorphins appear as the ones responsible for the euphoric states caused by runner’s high, sex, music, laugh, appetizing, and drinking. Medical opiates such as Morphine, Fentanyl and others in general are focused on replacing the natural beta transmitter of endorphin by boosting the analogs that pair with mu-receptors into the nervous system. (Sprouse-Blum et al., 2010). Interesting fact, the research also showed that skilled individuals could force the release of endorphins during a meditation session (Dfarhud et al., 2014). As a part of my own observation and practice, high concentration indeed removes any pain or discomfort and could stimulate an uplifting mental effect.

It follows that high or increased levels of endorphin bring a rewarding sensation, eliminating the pain, and increasing the dopamine level. On the contrary low levels of the chemical reverse the result and could lead to depression, as dopamine level might fall. Also without partial suppression GABA levels could increase dramatically impairing different sensory phenomenon and leading to neurological problems (Hockenbury et al. 2016).