The Hypothalamus

Within the body's endocrine system, the hypothalamus a collection of specialized cells located in the lower central part of the brain. This vital area is the control center of all autonomic regulatory activities of the body. It has been said that the hypothalamus is the "brain of the brain."  It is also:

• An important emotional center, controlling the molecules that make you feel exhilarated, angry, or unhappy.
• The hub for automatic (or subconscious) and endocrine homeostatic systems such as cardiovascular, temperature, and abdominal visceral regulation.
• Management system for all endocrine hormonal levels, sensory processing, and organizing body metabolism, as well as ingestive behaviors.

The hypothalamus is the primary link between the endocrine and nervous systems; it appears that almost everything the hypothalamus does is related in some way to the management of the brain and body connection. Nerve cells in the hypothalamus control the pituitary gland by producing chemicals that either stimulate or suppress hormone secretions from the pituitary.

The hypothalamus is responsible for maintaining homeostasis, the body's regulation of its internal environment so as to maintain a stable, constant condition. To maintain homeostasis, the hypothalamus is constantly adapting to stimuli from the five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell) as well as feedback from the nervous and endocrine systems.

"Once the hypothalamus is aware of a problem, how does it fix it? Essentially, there are two main outputs: neural signals to the autonomic system and endocrine signals to/through the pituitary."2

The hypothalamus controls pituitary output by secreting specific chemicals to the pituitary's front lobe. If the hypothalamus is the "command center," the pituitary gland is the "first lieutenant." "The pituitary gland is often portrayed as the 'master gland' of the body. Such praise is justified in the sense that the anterior and posterior pituitary secretes a battery of hormones that collectively influence all cells and affect virtually all physiologic processes. The pituitary gland may be king, but the power behind the throne is clearly the hypothalamus."

1: Brain Basics: Know Your Brain, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (part of the National Institutes of Health), NIH Publication No.01-3440a, last updated May 01, 2007
2: Neuroscience Tutorial, created by Diana Weedman Molavi, PhD at the Washington University School of Medicine; Washington University Program in Neuroscience, copyright 1997

The paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is an aggregation of neurons in the hypothalamus, which produces many hormones. It is adjacent to the third ventricle (hence the name of the nucleus.) Although it is in the periventricular zone, it is not to be confused with the periventricular nucleus that occupies a more medial, subjacent position to the third ventricle. The PVN is highly vascularised and is within the blood-brain barrier, although the neuroendocrine neurons in this nucleus project to sites (the median eminence and the posterior pituitary) that lack a blood-brain barrier.

Neurochemicals

The brain produces more than 50 identified active drugs. Some of these are associated with memory, others with intelligence, still others are sedatives. Some of the neurochemicals believed to be affected by Nexalin Therapy are:

• Endorphin - Called the brain's painkiller, it is 3 times more potent than morphine.
• Serotonin - An opiate-like chemical that helps maintain a "happy feeling," and seems to help keep our moods under control.
• Melatonin - Produced by the pineal gland, regulates behavioral and physiological circadian rhythms. Levels of melatonin in the blood are highest prior to bedtime.
• Dopamine - Similar to adrenaline; it affects brain processes that control movement, emotional response, and ability to experience pleasure and pain. The brains of people with Parkinson's disease contain almost no dopamine.
• Substance P - In the central nervous system, is associated with the regulation of mood disorders, anxiety, stress, reinforcement, neurogenesis, neurotoxicity and pain.
• Acetylcholine - The first neurotransmitter ever identified, it is particularly important in the stimulation of muscle tissue. In high doses, it can cause convulsions and tremors. In deficient levels, it can contribute to motor dysfunction.

Neurologists have long been aware of four classical neurotransmitters: epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and acetylcholine; but recently there have emerged a large number of additional neurotransmitters, of which an important group is the neuropeptides. While neuropeptides function as neurotransmitters, some of them also perform the role of neuromodulators; they do not act directly as neurotransmitters but rather as inhibitors or stimulators of neurotransmission. Opiates are a group of neuropeptides that act as both neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. Opiates' are so named because they are the naturally occurring neuropeptides with a strong affinity to the receptors that bind opiate drugs such as morphine and heroin. In effect, they are the body's opiates.

3 Hypertexts for Biomedical Sciences, Pathophysiology of the Endocrine System - Functional Anatomy of the Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland, Colorado State University; last updated on September 04, 2001; author: R. Bowen
4 Paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus - Wikipedia

The Endocrine System

"Although we rarely think about them, the glands of the endocrine system and the hormones they release influence almost every cell, organ, and function of our bodies. The endocrine system is instrumental in regulating mood, growth and development, tissue function, and metabolism, as well as sexual function and reproductive processes. Even though the nervous system and endocrine system are separate systems, they often work together to help the body function properly.

The foundations of the endocrine system are the hormones and glands. As the body's chemical messengers, hormones transfer information and instructions from one set of cells to another. Hormone levels can be influenced by factors such as stress, infection, and changes in the balance of fluid and minerals in blood.

A gland is a group of cells that produces and secretes, or gives off, chemicals. Some types of glands release their secretions in specific areas. Endocrine glands release more than 20 major hormones directly into the bloodstream where they can be transported to cells in other parts of the body.The major glands that make up the human endocrine system are the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, pineal body, and the reproductive glands.

The Pituitary Gland

The pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain just beneath the hypothalamus and is considered the most important part of the endocrine system. It's often called the "master gland" because it receives instructions from the hypothalamus and then releases hormones that control the thyroid and adrenal glands. The production and secretion of pituitary hormones can be influenced by factors such as emotions and seasonal changes. To accomplish this, the hypothalamus relays information sensed by the brain (such as environmental temperature, light exposure patterns, and feelings) to the pituitary. One of the hormones secreted by the pituitary is endorphins, chemicals that act on the nervous system to reduce sensitivity to pain." 5

The Pineal Gland

The pineal body, also called the pineal gland. The pineal gland is a small organ shaped like a pine cone (hence its name) located in the middle of the brain. The pineal gland synthesizes and secretes melatonin, a structurally simple hormone that communicates information about environmental lighting to various parts of the body. The duration of melatonin secretion each day is directly proportional to the length of the night. The light-transducing ability of the pineal gland has led some to call the pineal the "third eye". 6

5 Excerpts from KidsHealth website, created by The Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media; updated and reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD; July 2007
6 Hypertexts for Biomedical Sciences, Pathophysiology of the Endocrine System - The Pineal Gland, Colorado State University; last updated on March 17, 2003 Author: R. Bowen

The Limbic System

The limbic system wraps around the brain stem and is beneath the cerebral cortex. It is a major center for emotion formation, behavior, learning, and memory. The limbic structures are also connected with other major structures such as the cortex, hypothalamus, thalamus, and basal ganglia.

The structures of the limbic system are highly interconnected with the rest of the brain, and they likely form a gateway for communication between the cerebral cortex and the hypothalamus. This gateway allows for cognitive processes to modify the affect of the limbic system on hypothalamic functions, which provides a more extensive adaptive mechanism in an effort to normalize.