MadSci Network: Neuroscience |
Endorphins are natural peptide hormones that act within the brain to regulate emotional responses and to regulate pain. There are many simple ways to harmlessly stimulate the release of endorphins – and you don’t need to trick the body to do it. Laughter, physical contact (such as a massage), and vigorous exercise are among the ways believed to naturally stimulate endorphin release. Any of these methods could be appropriate for use in your science fair project. Although this would not be appropriate for a science fair project, the body can be “tricked” into responding as if endorphins were present when they are not. Some chemicals, such as those in a class called opiates, interact at the same receptors within the brain that endorphins use. This is how pharmaceutical drugs such as codeine reduce pain. (And this is how illegal drugs such as heroin can cause a brief emotional “high” followed by addiction.) If you want to learn some basic background information about endorphins, you should be able to find useful information in a college-level biochemistry textbook, or a thorough biology textbook.
Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Neuroscience.