hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is the part of the brain which takes control of our first line of adaptation to the outer world. It a way we could say it oversees life and death. Medically it is in charge of homeostasis, meaning that it maintains the inner balance of our system in the face of inner and outer change. In bio-analytic terms it sets the rhythm for our inner organisation and oversees an oscillation between relatively safe set-points.

The hypothalamus exchanges a massive amount of information with the rest of the body. It influences blood pressure, body temperature, the amount of body fluids and their pH, chemical substances and their balance in the bloodstream, the rate of metabolism in cells and the amount of rest and sleep needed by our system. The hypothalamus also affects our mood and self-assessment as part of the limbic system, a feedback system crucial for our inner emotional response to the outer world. In terms of our modern lifestyle this seemingly ‘primitive’ part of the brain ironically directs many of our health and social concerns such as weight and appetite, hypertension and heart disease, chronic fatigue and sexual behaviour.