4. The Endocrine System

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this lecture, we turn our attention to the endocrine system, focusing in particular on: (i) the different endocrine glands that exist within our body; (ii) the function of the hormones they produce; (iii) the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland, the pancreas, the adrenal glands, the testes, and the ovaries.

Course

In this course, Mr Kevin Silber (University of Derby) discusses the functions of the nervous system and the endocrine system. In the first lecture, we think about the role of neurons and the process of synaptic transmission. In the second lecture, we think about different types of neurotransmitters. In the third lecture, we think about the impact of recreational drugs on the brain. Next, we turn to the endocrine system and discuss how the different hormones produced by our endocrine glands are used to regulate bodily functions and processes. In the fifth and final lecture, we look at how the nervous system and the endocrine system work together to produce the ‘fight or flight’ response when our body is confronted with a threat.

Lecturer

Mr Kevin Silber is a senior lecturer at the University of Derby where he primarily teaches biological psychology modules. Mr Silber is also an AQA A-Level examiner and is involved in authoring texts for A-Level psychology. Having started life as a neuroscientist, Mr Silber’s research interests still lie in biologically oriented topics. However, his main research interest is now focused on body image. Some of Mr Silber’s recent publications include ‘Working memory in children: A developmental approach to the phonological coding of pictorial material’ (2011) and ‘Sexual orientation and the sleep-wake cycle: A preliminary investigation’ (2000).