Definition
The ventral part of the diencephalon that controls the autonomic nervous system and, via the pituitary gland, major neuroendocrine systems, thereby regulating homeostasis in response to a changing environment.
Introduction
As suggested by its name, the hypothalamus is located below the thalamus, along the walls of the third ventricle just above the brainstem. One of its main roles is to establish and maintain homeostasis in response to a changing environment. The hypothalamus is critical for the regulation of numerous vital functions including body temperature, hunger, thirst, fatigue, circadian rhythms, sleep, sexual activity, parenting, and attachment behaviors (Grossman 1960). Its function in turn is sensitive to environmental signals such as light, olfactory stimuli, or stress. The hypothalamus also coordinates hormonal production and thereby influences functions throughout the body (Kalat 2016).
The Anatomy of the Hypothalamus and Its Connections
In humans, the...
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References
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Quaedflieg, C.W.E.M., Schwabe, L. (2017). Hypothalamus. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_767-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_767-1
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