Chemistry; Tuesday, Period One [ 04/05 ].
"Alright, kids," said Kūkaku, when it was time to get class started, "we're gonna continue on our investigation of the chemistry of the human body with something I'm jus' gonna assume ya all have: the brain."
She gave the detailed diagram on the board a little thwap with a pointer stick. It looked much like the brains on all the lab tables, which, like the stomachs from last week, looked designed to see what happens inside.
"And a study of the neurochemicals that make the brain work is called neurochemistry. Imagine that. All the stuff that makes the neurons in your brains work so that you can have thoughts and even do functions of workin' the body that you don't even realize your brain is doin'."
So, of course, Kūkaku had plenty to say about just how neurochemicals work
"There are all sorts of neurochemicals. Have a look:"
And now, to the other board, where things were already neatly...well, legibly, anyway...listed.
"Nerve grown factor: small secreted protein that maintains the growth, maintenance, and survival of certain nerve cells.
"Oxytocin: a mammalian hormone best known for its part in female reproduction. It activates in the brain during labor and, after labor, stimulated the female body into being able to provide everythin' it needs for the baby. I know, gross, right? It's also believed to be what has a hand in maternal instincts, pair bonding, anxiety, and orgasm, so you can guess I'm pretty freakin' low on that one.
"Glutamate acid: an important neurotransmitter that plays an important role in memory and learnin'. So let's hope yours are doin' jus' fine.
"Acetylcholine: the neurotransmitter that works with your nervous system. It's one of the many neurotransmitters that works with all your automatic body functions, and one of the only ones that works with the voluntary control of your body.
"Nitric oxide: not to be confused with nitrous oxide, it's got a part in many physiological and pathological processes. Low levels help protect things like the liver, while increased NO production can cause tissue damage and septic shock.
"Eicosanoid: these complex shits are responsible for your body's immunity and inflammation, to name just a few. They're actually a carbonation of essential fatty acids, and it is connected to your diet, which is another example of how all this chemistry in the brain is connected with the chemistry in your other body parts.
" Dopamine: produced in several areas of the brain. It's main function is to inhibit lactation, but it's used as a medication that acts on the sympathetic nervous system.
"And now the one we'll be workin' with today. Serotonin, when it comes to the brain, is a big contributor to the regulation of mood, appetite, sleep, and muscle contraction. It also has a hand in memory and learnin'. Although it's not a hormone, it's known as the 'happiness hormone,' and is used as kind of an antidepressant for some."
"So we've got these model brains that, like our model stomachs, will show you a generalization of the processes the brain goes through when a neurochemical like serotonin is activated. Take note of the parts of the brain that react, and how, and then, if you want, play around with some other neurochemicals and how they effect your model brain.
"And, when you're done with that, we're gonna have some time left for a short video that might be of interest."
Because Kūkaku was cruel sometimes.
[[ ocd on the way is up! ]]
She gave the detailed diagram on the board a little thwap with a pointer stick. It looked much like the brains on all the lab tables, which, like the stomachs from last week, looked designed to see what happens inside.
"And a study of the neurochemicals that make the brain work is called neurochemistry. Imagine that. All the stuff that makes the neurons in your brains work so that you can have thoughts and even do functions of workin' the body that you don't even realize your brain is doin'."
So, of course, Kūkaku had plenty to say about just how neurochemicals work
"There are all sorts of neurochemicals. Have a look:"
And now, to the other board, where things were already neatly...well, legibly, anyway...listed.
"Nerve grown factor: small secreted protein that maintains the growth, maintenance, and survival of certain nerve cells.
"Oxytocin: a mammalian hormone best known for its part in female reproduction. It activates in the brain during labor and, after labor, stimulated the female body into being able to provide everythin' it needs for the baby. I know, gross, right? It's also believed to be what has a hand in maternal instincts, pair bonding, anxiety, and orgasm, so you can guess I'm pretty freakin' low on that one.
"Glutamate acid: an important neurotransmitter that plays an important role in memory and learnin'. So let's hope yours are doin' jus' fine.
"Acetylcholine: the neurotransmitter that works with your nervous system. It's one of the many neurotransmitters that works with all your automatic body functions, and one of the only ones that works with the voluntary control of your body.
"Nitric oxide: not to be confused with nitrous oxide, it's got a part in many physiological and pathological processes. Low levels help protect things like the liver, while increased NO production can cause tissue damage and septic shock.
"Eicosanoid: these complex shits are responsible for your body's immunity and inflammation, to name just a few. They're actually a carbonation of essential fatty acids, and it is connected to your diet, which is another example of how all this chemistry in the brain is connected with the chemistry in your other body parts.
" Dopamine: produced in several areas of the brain. It's main function is to inhibit lactation, but it's used as a medication that acts on the sympathetic nervous system.
"And now the one we'll be workin' with today. Serotonin, when it comes to the brain, is a big contributor to the regulation of mood, appetite, sleep, and muscle contraction. It also has a hand in memory and learnin'. Although it's not a hormone, it's known as the 'happiness hormone,' and is used as kind of an antidepressant for some."
"So we've got these model brains that, like our model stomachs, will show you a generalization of the processes the brain goes through when a neurochemical like serotonin is activated. Take note of the parts of the brain that react, and how, and then, if you want, play around with some other neurochemicals and how they effect your model brain.
"And, when you're done with that, we're gonna have some time left for a short video that might be of interest."
Because Kūkaku was cruel sometimes.
[[ ocd on the way is up! ]]