How much influence do hormones have over the way we think?

[Khan N. Singh]

The questions i've asked:

 

Why is it that i can consistently find and predict similar thinking to my own in people with similar levels of hormones. In my case, being from a small ethnic group from the Indian subcontinent, they stick out more in North America, and thus its easy to compare and see. As well, since i was born and grew up here, i see some unsettling similarities between myself and family from back home, even those i have had no contact with. Nurture is not the only reason, as there are some drastic cultural/political differences within this group, and i've noticed these 'traits' seem to bridge all these immense cultural rifts.

 

Even more recently, i became aware of stereotypes regarding my entire ethnic group that almost manifest themselves thoroughly in myself, as well as these other individuals.

 

Yet, there's plenty of differences. I am not sure which is different: what we think, or why we think it, or how we think it. Or what leads to which.

 

I've just noticed that after doing some more research, hormones have some incredibly potent effects on the nervous system, neuronal performance/growth/differentiation. I am specifically talking about the thyroid hormones, melatonin, and growth factors like NGF (remember that study where the results showed that the body dumped a ton of NGF into the system within the first year of being romantically 'in love'?). Although if people have any to add to the list, I'm interested :rolleyes:

 

The decisions I/we make. How much of them are really influenced by these little things swimming around in our body?

 

I'm 23 for example. Would the difference between someone my age being attracted enough to a specific person, or not attracted enough to pursue a course of action that could change their lives be easily altered with a shift in hormone levels? This is the best example i've found with hormones.

 

Even in people with proven normal levels of hormones. What's to say their lifestyle doesn't affect their hormone levels (look for example, on studies relating to insomnia/circadian rythms/melatonin), into potentially altering their decision-making tendencies? That people who don't sleep at night, when taking melatonin supplements to help reset their daily routines and sleep normally, will eventually start thinking differently...making different decisions?

 

Everything i've seen indicated all this happens (genetics/environment -> hormones -> thinking -> decisions).

 

Maybe i'm getting philosophical, but what defines us? Is it the level of hormones in our blood resulting from genetics/environment? If we change these things to 'normalize' or imbalance our natural chemistry unnaturally...are we changing who we are, since our thinking/decisions will most likely be a little different? In my case, whenever I experiment with changing factors in my environment, I can end up inducing completely different kinds of instincts/behaviour (i think i'm perhaps describing this incorrectly), i think because my body's natural balance is a little off the normal pace to begin with due to genetics.

 

A specific example:

 

My father had hyperthyroidism throughout life, but without 'major' symptoms. I say 'major' because I think he embodied the symptoms so they don't appear major until he finally did show extreme symptoms, and needed half of his thyroid removed. Right before this, not only did he exhibit physical symptoms, he was psychologically very different. Emotionally, violently confused is the only way I can describe it. That was the biggest symptom of all, that prompted my mother to finally figure out something was seriously wrong. He started behaving normally (perhaps still emotionally, violently confused but not so nearly noticeable :) ) afterwards. He is finally showing signs of developing some extra padding on his physique as well :) He's always been a skinny guy. I myself, eat, and eat, and eat, and i don't gain weight whatsoever. I can also not eat during a weekend or something, if i stay in all day, and i don't seem to get hungry easily although i don't know if that is related. A lot of the way my father thinks, i exhibit, as well as the contradictory nature of the way my mother thinks. My father has had little contact with me while I was growing up, he's always been working. I only know when I start to do strange things like him when my mother points it out. Likewise, the things i do like my mother...are things she never taught me. She used to do these things before when I was born, when she was young, and since then she has changed a great deal. She is mystified why I would behave like her from before i should have any right of knowing. I know you all have similar stories. Why? Well, I guess genetics is why. But how? Is it through hormones perhaps? Well some of it maybe.

[tarak]

I didnot quite understand your predicament..Like people with same hormone levels...what hormones??what levels??

There is a genetic blueprint within you and there is an environment out there both interact with each other in a reciprocal way..

There is endocrine system,there is nervous system and both interact with each other reciprocally...

Now behavior is largely a holistic process of human expression driven by umpteen factors which generate definite iterative patterns and program an individual to respond with the self and the environment...

[billg]

Maybe i'm getting philosophical, but what defines us? Is it the level of hormones in our blood resulting from genetics/environment? If we change these things to 'normalize' or imbalance our natural chemistry unnaturally...are we changing who we are, since our thinking/decisions will most likely be a little different? In my case, whenever I experiment with changing factors in my environment, I can end up inducing completely different kinds of instincts/behaviour (i think i'm perhaps describing this incorrectly), i think because my body's natural balance is a little off the normal pace to begin with due to genetics.

 

There's not really any doubt that many hormones can influence our behaviour. Even a change in insulin levels will ultimately bring about a change in appetite, and there's plenty of research suggesting other hormones (like melatonin and oxytocin) can bring about "higher order" behavioural changes. But this is not all there is to a person's behaviour! Hormones are released in response to certain environmental pressures, and in turn effect how we deal with the environment. But mediating between the environment and our hormones lies the incredible complexity of our brain. You may be like your parents for many reasons, both genetic (your genes obviously influencing you hormone levels, among other things) and environmental (do you respect your parents opinions?) But it's important to remember that you can't chalk it down to one factor, because everything interacts. Even if you look similar to your father because of shared genes, this may result in people acting in a similar way towards you both, which may result in having similar personalities.

 

Hormones do not totally dictate our minds. In a normally functioning person, a high level of a particular hormone will be detected by the brain, and it will "give commands" to release less of that hormone, maintaining an equilibrium. Some times this hormonal equilibrium will change, but the equilibrium of the neuronal connections within our brains is changing constantly in response to every unique moment we experience. Hormones are certainly an important part of out biologies that effect our behavior - but while they are a part of us, they are only one part of us. Hormones and the brain act on each other, and our environment and our brain act on each other, so really, the are all neccessary to define who "we" are.

[Khan N. Singh]

i actually have symptoms of hyperthyroidism. i started taking melatonin supplements nightly to help me sleep. i stopped for a few days, and i noticed a complete difference about me in some aspects of my daily life. without getting specific (its personal), the decisions i was making were slightly different. i don't want to use these supplements as a crutch so now i'm just gonna use them when i don't have a long period of time to devote to attempting to get a good night's sleep. or when i can't afford to just be myself (because trust me its counterintuitive to everything i have planned in life atm).

 

i don't think everybody has the same exact level of hormones or hormonal response to environment. i'm not entirely sure if this isn't responsible for a huge part of the 'individuality' of our personalities (aside of course from the fact that the sum of our experiences make up our life).

 

my symptoms aren't that severe...yet. i've talked to a few who had the severe issues, i'm still debating whether to worry about a real course of action or just wait until it gets worse (like its prone to do in my family...about another 25 years down the line)

 

oh yeah, and i don't look like my father. people don't treat us the same.

[InfiniteNow]

There's not really any doubt that many hormones can influence our behaviour. Even a change in insulin levels will ultimately bring about a change in appetite, and there's plenty of research suggesting other hormones (like melatonin and oxytocin) can bring about "higher order" behavioural changes.

 

Good points. The whole insulin thing is even deeper than just hunger. Ever heard of Hypoglycemic rage?

 

 

But this is not all there is to a person's behaviour! Hormones are released in response to certain environmental pressures, and in turn effect how we deal with the environment.

 

 

There's also a neat phenomenon where winning increases testosterone levels.

 

From link above:

Other studies have shown that men with naturally higher testosterone levels are more aggressive and take-charge than men with slightly lower levels. When two sports teams meet, both teams will show an increase in testosterone during the game. "In the face of competition, levels of testosterone will rise," says Alan Booth, a sociologist at Penn State University. "This prepares the competitor and may help increase the chances for a win. It could be that the rise in testosterone has physical benefits, such as visual acuity and increased strength. But only the winning team continues to show high testosterone after the game."

 

 

You may be like your parents for many reasons, both genetic (your genes obviously influencing you hormone levels, among other things) and environmental (do you respect your parents opinions?) But it's important to remember that you can't chalk it down to one factor, because everything interacts.

Or maybe you just share the same barber? :Waldo:

 

 

Hormones do not totally dictate our minds. In a normally functioning person, a high level of a particular hormone will be detected by the brain, and it will "give commands" to release less of that hormone, maintaining an equilibrium. Some times this hormonal equilibrium will change, but the equilibrium of the neuronal connections within our brains is changing constantly in response to every unique moment we experience.

 

Another good point, but the equilibrium is anything but constant. It is a system where fluctuations toward equilibrium occur, but a quick trip into any high school classroom will tell you how big of an impact hormones truly have.

 

Sex sex sex fight sex fight identify self sex sex fight sex sex sex fight sex sex sex fight sex sex sex sex....

 

 

my symptoms aren't that severe...yet. i've talked to a few who had the severe issues, i'm still debating whether to worry about a real course of action or just wait until it gets worse (like its prone to do in my family...about another 25 years down the line)

Just remember Khan... worrying doesn't solve any problems. While I am not advocating burying your head in the sand, worry is not what's going to educate you enough to understand and resolve any problems.

[questor]

Khan, all you need to do is google ''hormones'' and read about each one you are interested in. you will find which hormone influences which function of the body. hormones plus your electrical ''wiring'' dictated by genes cotrols most functions of the body, including motor function.

[HydrogenBond]

I am not sure if this is classified as hormones but the old saying about men "thinking with their lower brains", shows changes in masculine type blood chemicals, can alter behavior, sensory expectation, and perception of reality. One also can look at a female's monthly cycle. The changes within her hormones can cause a wide range of behavioral changes.

[Super Polymath]

They have a MAJOR impact on the way think. In the early 2000s the FDA was paid to greenlight these chemical lobotomies to make screw-ups for the rich to enjoy