-5-
Horizontally, not vertically connecting
| brainpeptide | target | behavior | hormones/peptides |
| opiates, alcohol | reproduction, bonding | sex, friendship |
serotonin, estrogen |
| cocaine | response to threat | fight |
HPA-axis hormones, cortisol,adrenaline |
| amphetamines | response to threat | flight (?) | |
| nicotine | energy | eat | leptin |
| benzodiazepines | storage, organisation,growth | sleep | melatonin |
Additive and summarary schemes
Often pictures and diagrams do explain more than words. There are many pictures of the brain on the internet. Therefore here are given only a few schemes that are directly related to the content of the brain-pages of this website. The above diagram ‘ horizontally, not vertically connecting ' focuses on the connections between elements, which most of the times are studied in separate disciplines independently of each other. Well-known areas like: behavior, cognition, physiology (hormones) are shown in the above diagram in the vertical blocks. On brnsoc. the accent is put on the horizontal connections. Long strings are necessary to show the layers between body and mind.
Generalised circuits
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continuation horizontally, not vertically connecting
| emotions,character | cognition | muscles,organs | psychic |
| happy, sad |
mother, lover, 'own' |
facial muscles,sex organs | schizofrenia, depression |
| anger, extraverted | risk | forward directed force |
ADHD,agressive,obsessive disorders |
| scared, introverted | risk | strong leg muscles | ADHD, anxiety disorders |
| digestion | foodl | digestive organs | obesity, apathy |
| slaperig | safe sleep environment | to relax muscles | insomnia, psychosis |
References to scientific research and researchers
Scientific interest in psychotropic substances underlies this website. If drugs make their own brains, as in the seventies was reported (JM van Ree: Endorphines, endogenous morphine-like substances, 1978), what then is the 'normal' function of the receptors in which opium products operate. What does it say about the functioning of the brain? A second question was, what may be deduced from the fact that addictive substances clearly differ in their effects. What does that say about the brain?
The content of this website is based on a lot of fine research. This is a selection of researchers.
J. Olds and P. Milner (1955) described the reward center in the brain.
A. Wikler and Schuster CR (1967) compared the storage of external stimuli under the influence of opiates with learning as described by Pavlov (the incentive sensitisation).
The long term effect of this learning can be seen in the 'craving'. S. Freud (1905) pointed out the similarity between withdrawal symptoms and neuroses.
MA Bozarth (1994) found that addictive substances a brain system affect a neural substrate is the motivation and control behavior.
JM Van Ree (from 1970) and his colleagues showed in Several studies on the relationship of opioids in sexual and social behaviors.
AR Cools, B. Ellenbroek, G. Martens, R. de Kloet (2006) did studies on the relationship between risk-stress, cocaine and personality. Differences in personality of animals can be seen in the documentary 'Character', made by a group of biologists in collaboration with R. de Kloet.
Schoffelmeer ANM and T. de Vries (2001) showed a connection to the storage of external stimuli and the cannabinoid areas in the brain.
BJ Everitt and Wolf MA (2002) gave a diagram of the brain circuitry involved in addiction (see below).
D. Swaab (1980, 2010) stressed the importance of the influence of corticosteroids and emotional events of the mother during pregnancy period.
T. Roseboom investigates epigenetic effects of the hunger winter.
In the diagram of Everitt and Wolf 2002 of the brain circuitry involved in addiction, I have the routes of various addictive substances manually subscribed. That the circuit in circuitry for 'food', 'love' and 'react to danger " has to be divided, is shown by the release of various hormones by the pituitary gland.
Accountability
On this website a lot of neuroscience research is brought together, the hard and interesting work of others. They are not responsible for the manner in which their investigations have been brought together. Of course I tried te remain as close as possible to their results. Phenomenology has been used as the main research methodology. I do consider this method suitable for a complex topic as the functioning of the brain. The guideline here is to get as many aspects as possible on a row and then look for the core.