Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Menopause

Menopause

Menopause, a natural biological process marking the end of a woman's fertility, typically occurs between the fifth and sixth decade of life. This phase is characterized by the exhaustion of the ovarian follicle pool, leading to less responsive ovaries despite the high levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). The consequential decrease in estrogen production results in symptoms like hot flashes, heavy sweating, headaches, hair loss, muscle pains, vaginal...

Physiology of Emotion

Physiology of Emotion

The physiology of emotions is a multifaceted process involving the autonomic nervous system, brain structures, hormones, and neurotransmitters. This intricate interplay dictates how emotions manifest in the body and influence behavior.
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a critical role in emotional responses by regulating involuntary physiological functions. It consists of two main components: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic system...

Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle

Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle

The ovarian cycle regulates endometrial changes throughout a single menstrual cycle via the coordinated action of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotrophins.
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH release.

Major Hormones and Their Functions

Major Hormones and Their Functions

Hormones, the biochemical messengers produced by endocrine glands, are pivotal in regulating bodily functions and maintaining homeostasis. Each hormone's balance is crucial; imbalances can lead to significant physiological disruptions. Major hormones include oxytocin, cortisol, epinephrine, estrogen, testosterone, thyroxine, growth hormone, insulin, and glucagon.
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and lactation.

Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle

Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle

The ovarian cycle is meticulously regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. This cycle orchestrates the release of a mature oocyte, essential for reproduction.
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle. At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...

Hormonal Regulation

Hormonal Regulation

The renin-aldosterone system is an endocrine system which guides the renal absorption of water and electrolytes, thus managing blood pressure and osmoregulation. Activation of the system begins in the kidneys with a small cluster of cells adjacent to the afferent and efferent blood vessels of the renal corpuscle. As the nephrons are filtering blood, juxtaglomerular cells monitor blood pressure. If they detect a decrease in pressure, they release the hormone renin into the bloodstream.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Motor, not cognitive, performance relates to amyloid status in normal older adults.

Alzheimer's & dementia (Amsterdam, Netherlands)·2026

Same author

Clinical Manifestations.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association·2025

Same author

Clinical Manifestations.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association·2025

Same author

Clinical Manifestations.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association·2025

Same author

Clinical Manifestations.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association·2025

Same author

Developing Topics.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause

An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause

Published on: August 13, 2019

Postmenopausal hormone use impact on emotion processing circuitry.

Tal Shafir¹, Tiffany Love, Alison Berent-Spillson

¹Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.

Behavioural Brain Research

|September 21, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Early hormone therapy (HT) use in postmenopausal women influences brain activity during emotional processing. These brain changes were more evident than behavioral effects, impacting cognitive-emotional integration.

More Related Videos

Protocol for Studying Extinction of Conditioned Fear in Naturally Cycling Female Rats

Protocol for Studying Extinction of Conditioned Fear in Naturally Cycling Female Rats

Published on: February 23, 2015

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Impairing Effect of Emotion on Cognition

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Impairing Effect of Emotion on Cognition

Published on: February 1, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 29, 2026

An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause

An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause

Published on: August 13, 2019

Protocol for Studying Extinction of Conditioned Fear in Naturally Cycling Female Rats

Protocol for Studying Extinction of Conditioned Fear in Naturally Cycling Female Rats

Published on: February 23, 2015

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Impairing Effect of Emotion on Cognition

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Impairing Effect of Emotion on Cognition

Published on: February 1, 2012

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Endocrinology
Psychology

Background:

Estrogen's role in emotional processing is debated, with conflicting results in postmenopausal women.
Studies on hormone therapy (HT) initiated late after menopause show minimal emotional effects.
Early HT initiation may preserve crucial brain mechanisms for emotional regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effects of early hormone therapy (HT) on emotional processing in postmenopausal women.
To compare brain activity and behavioral responses during an emotional task between HT users and non-users.
To determine if HT initiation timing influences neurobiological responses to emotional stimuli.

Main Methods:

Cross-sectional study comparing 52 postmenopausal women (conjugated equine estrogen, estrogen plus progestin, or no hormone therapy).
All hormone users began therapy within two years of menopause and had continuous use for at least 10 years.
fMRI brain activity and behavioral measures were collected during an emotional picture rating task.

Main Results:

Hormone therapy users showed altered brain activation in regions like the medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate, and insula during emotional picture processing.
Estrogen-treated women exhibited higher entorhinal cortex activation for negative pictures compared to non-users.
Current HT users demonstrated increased hippocampal activation and better emotion recognition for neutral stimuli compared to past users.

Conclusions:

Hormone therapy use, particularly when initiated early, is associated with significant differences in brain functional responses during emotional processing.
fMRI findings suggest that HT impacts neural pathways involved in cognitive-emotional integration.
Observed neurobiological effects of HT were more pronounced than behavioral changes.