The CRF Signal: Uncovering an Information Molecule (PDF)

By Jay Schulkin (Author)

Information molecules, such as Cortico-Releasing Factor (CRF), have been around for a long time and are found in numerous organs serving many purposes. Initially associated with fear, anxiety and social interaction, recent research has linked CRF to addiction and the pleasure associated with alcohol consumption. Today, CRF is considered to be a diverse peptide hormone that functions in various ways. Though it primarily acts as a releasing factor in the brain, it has many other roles. This book delves into the effects of CRF and its connection between location and function. Highlighting recurrent features such as movement, this molecule plays a vital role in many neural functions and its expression in the brain is a result of paying attention to novel events and invoking movement in response to those events. With its ability to mobilize under extreme conditions, such as in the case of adversity, CRF also evokes simple organized rhythmic behavior. This book explores the evolutionary origins of CRH and its impact on human characteristics and social behaviors, with special insights that will appeal to students and researchers in the fields of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Biology.