Hormones and Behavior: Basic Concepts

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Hormones and Behavior: Basic ConceptsR. J. Nelson,Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights endocrinology is the scientific study of theinteraction between Hormones and behavior. This interac-tion is bidirectional: Hormones can affect behavior, andbehavior can feedback to influence hormone concentra-tions. Hormones are chemical messengers released fromendocrine glands that influence the nervous system toregulate the physiology and behavior of individuals. Overevolutionary time, Hormones regulating physiological pro-cesses have been co-opted to influence behaviors linked tothese processes. For example, Hormones associated withgamete maturation such as estrogens are now broadlyassociated with the regulation of female sexual dual hormonal actions ensure that mating behavioroccurs when animals have mature gametes available forfertilization. Generally speaking, Hormones change geneexpression or cellular function, and affect behavior byincreasing the likelihood that specific behaviors occur inthe presence of precise stimuli.

Immunocytochemistry (ICC) techniques use antibodies to determine the location of a hormone in cells. Antibodies linked to marker molecules, such as those of a fluorescent dye, are usually introduced into dissected tissue from an animal, where they bind with the hormone or neurotransmitter of interest.

  Immunocytochemistry