MadSci Network: Neuroscience |
Hi Cory! Your body has an entire system devoted to regulating body temperature, hunger, and other internal conditions -- it's called the endocrine/ neuroendocrine system. An area of the brain called the hypothalamus is in charge of regulating internal conditions such as body temp, hunger/satiety, thirst, emotional state (including feelings of stress), and your sleep cycle (AKA your circadian rhythm). The hypothalamus is also involved in some reproductive and memory functions. Endocrine functions are achieved through the release of specific neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and hormones that act at areas throughout your brain and other areas of the body. Here is an excellent "Neuroscience for Kids" site. http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/ Here are some pages from that site that specifically deal with the hypothalamus and the endocrine system: A fun Circadian Rhythms lab: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/clock.html Definition of the hypothalamus (and other brain areas): http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/nsdivide.html More information on the hypothalamus can be found through typing terms like "hypothalamus," "endocrine," "temperature," "hunger" and so forth into a good search engine. Try http://www.google.com for starters. Have fun! Amanda Kahn amandak@phy.ucsf.edu
Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Neuroscience.