Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Endorphins Nica Siegel, Lorelei Tavzel, Lauren Jonas “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't.” -Elle Woods Synthesis • Large molecule neurotransmitters made of peptides (chains of amino acids) • AKA Neuro-peptides • endogenous (formed by the body) opioid polypeptide compounds • 3 Types: • beta endorphin (pituitary and hypothalamus) • enkephalins (adrenal medulla and throughout the nervous system) • dynorphin (throughout nervous system) • Neuromodulators-travel to other parts of the brain • Instantly after interaction with receptor, peptides are broken down into AA’s, making it hard to clinically control them Beta-endophin using optical microscopy Function • Released at various times • Pain • Stress • Exercise • Laughter • Sex Pain • morphine like substance that originates from the body—Endorphins interact with opiate receptor neurons to reduce the intensity of pain • They resemble the opiates in their abilities to produce analgesia (painkillers) • Neurons in regions of brain related to pain perception are more likely to bind with endorphins Stress • High stress events can cause an endorphin rush ex. Childbirth • Beta endorphin and adrenocorticotropin, a common stress hormone, are thought to be released at the same time and originate from the pituitary gland • Fight-or-Flight Exercise • “runner’s high” • Endorphin levels higher after test subjects adhere to regimen of regular running • Question of whether endorphins are released specifically because of exercise or because the stress of physical exertion releases adrenocorticotropin which causes the release of beta-endorphin as well Placebo Effect • In painkiller trials, the control group is often told that they have received the treatment being given to the experimental group, in order to test for placebo effect • When the placebo effect occurs, researchers often find higher levels of endorphins, released by the body, that accounts for the decrease in pain • Subjects treated with nalaxon, which blocks endorphin behavior, placebo effect essentially disappears Negative Effects • Too much endorphins-people can become addicted to this high, whether it be a runner’s high, or the high they get off a sugar rush or even drug abuse. • Once they get this high of endorphins rushing into their system, they may want to feel it again. Therefore they may keep exercising (to a point where they exercise too much) and hurt their body. • When an athlete sustains a serious injury during a game or competition, the endorphin release may cause them to ignore the issue more than they should • When people cut themselves/self-injure, the release of endorphins is why many people say the behavior makes them feel better/ releases stress • Food: • Eating a lot (bingeing) releases endorphins, and constantly eating could then lead to obesity, simply because people feel so good when ingesting tasty foods • Eating disorders, part of the reason they are addictive behaviors is because endorphins are released when someone is incredibly hungry/feels starved (anorexia) and also when a person throws up (bulimia) Endorphins and Drugs • Drugs affect brain activity by interfering with neurotransmitter functioning in the synapse • may also effect the synaptic transmission by increasing or decreasing the amount of the endorphins produced • Drugs can mimic endorphins • beta endorphin -- increases significantly in response to alcohol, reasons unsure • Cocaine and Endorphins can produce similar effects in the human body, and when someone is addicted to cocaine, it takes the place of endogenous endorphins and disrupts the “feedback loop” that causes endorphins to be released • Morphine and heroin combine with the endorphin receptors in the brain, resulting in reduced natural endorphin production • the drugs are needed to replace the naturally produced endorphins and addiction occurs Disease and Disorders • Many disorders, specifically epilepsy (seizures) and schizophrenia, research shows really increased levels of endorphins but it isn’t clear if it is: • A trigger • A symptom/ side effect • Result of stress/pain of situation • Autism- One theory states that autistic individuals have too much beta-endorphins in their central nervous system. But opposing evidence contradicts this hypothesis stating that perhaps it is not a lack of endorphins, but rather an excess of endorphins • Depression-It is possible that endorphins are linked with depression. Endorphins can help a person come out of a depression (by exercising one can increase their endorphin levels which can then give them a rush of pleasure of happiness)