hypothalamic hormone

any hormone secreted by neurons of the hypothalamus. Neuroendocrine cells in the hypothalamus produce the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin. The axons of these cells pass through the pituitary stalk (infundibulum) to the posterior pituitary, where they are released into the bloodstream. Other neuroendocrine cells in the hypothalamus produce either releasing hormones, which stimulate secretion of anterior pituitary hormones, or inhibiting hormones, which prevent secretion of anterior pituitary hormones. These hormones travel to the anterior pituitary through the hypothalamic–pituitary portal system.

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Psychology term of the day

January 18th 2025

hierarchical model of personality

a model of either within-person dynamics or individual differences in personality in which some psychological constructs are viewed as high-level variables that organize or govern the functioning of other lower level variables. For example, a hierarchical model of personality traits might view the construct sociability as being at a lower level in a hierarchy than the construct extraversion: Sociability would be seen as a form or example of the higher level trait of extraversion.