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Current: News from the Institutes
09.12.2019
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- Glossary
Stress hormone system
During the stress response, the sympathetic nervous system and a number of hormone glands – the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal cortex – work together to prepare the body for increased demands. The sympathetic nervous system uses the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline as messenger substances. Their activity increases breathing and heart rate while improving blood flow to the muscles. During the stress response, the adrenal cortex releases the hormone cortisol. It acts via negative feedback on the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, thereby slowing down further cortisol release. When the stressor subsides and the sympathetic tone decreases, the parasympathetic nervous system can regain the upper hand and bring the organism into a state of rest.
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- Emotions
Addicted to Love
They say love is blind. Neurobiologists have discovered that this is true. What's more, it's also addictive.
20.12.2011
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- Basics
- The Developing Brain
Like Mother, like Child
Like mother, like son: Key regulatory circuits in the brain and genes are calibrated before birth
10.02.2026
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- News from the Institutes
Stress during early pregnancy affects offspring into adulthood
Long-term study on wild monkeys in Thailand reveals health risks and opportunities for intervention
22.01.2025
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- Basics
- Anatomy
The Amygdala
Without the amygdala, humans lose their sense of fear. With the amygdala, they also recognize the fear of others.
22.12.2023
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Glossary
15.03.2017
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- Basics
- Anatomy
The Epithalamus
Probably not the seat of the soul after all: the pineal gland in the epithalamus.
09.10.2025
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- Basics
- Anatomy
The Corpora Mamillaria
Mammillary bodies located between the cerebral peduncles – play an important role in memory formation.
28.11.2025
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- Glossary
Diencephalon
The diencephalon (midbrain) includes the thalamus and hypothalamus, among other structures. Together with the cerebrum, it forms the forebrain. The diencephalon contains centers for sensory perception, emotion, and the control of vital functions such as hunger and thirst.
