Appetite SET POINT In spite of great fluctuation in the quantity and frequency of eating, we all maintain remarkable precision between energy expenditure and energy intake. Social factors, emotions, and…

Pleasure SEEKING PLEASURE Voluntary behavior in animals is motivated by the avoidance of pain and the pursuit of pleasure. In this chapter, we will focus on the neuronal mechanisms that…

Pain Pain and pleasure are the major driving forces of human behavior. We cover pain in this chapter but are ever so looking forward to discussing pleasure in the next…

The Electrical Brain MORE THAN CHEMISTRY One of our favorite illustrations in this book is Figure 3.9, which highlights the electrochemical configuration of neural communication. Unfortunately, many mental health professionals…

Inflammation and Immunity Up to this point, we have discussed a number of mechanisms that may explain how the mentally ill brain is different from the normal brain. The immune…

Receptors and Signaling the Nucleus INTRODUCTION In this chapter, we continue a discussion about events at the cellular level and explore what happens at receptors after neurotransmitters make contact. Electrochemical…

Neurotransmitters POINT OF INTEREST It is not uncommon in our practices for patients to announce at the initial evaluation, “Doc, I have a chemical imbalance” as though it is some…

Circuits and Cells THE NEURONAL CELL The human brain is the most complex organ known to exist in the universe. Its weight is just 3% of the body, but it…

Neuroanatomy CEREBRAL CORTEX There are many large textbooks with extensive writings and illustrations providing all the known specifics about the anatomy of the nervous system. If you are looking for…