Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 2284

WALTER BRADFORD CANNON (1871-1945) Bodily changes in pain, hunger, fear, and rage. D. Appleton 1915 xiii, 311 pp., illus. 19.7 cm.

For more information on this author or work, see number: 2283

In this work, Cannon reports on the continuation of his research into the nature of digestion by investigating the role of the emotions, endocrine glands, and the sympathetic nervous system. Cannon identified many bodily changes that were caused by emotional disturbances and determined that they were physiological preparations by the body for either fight or flight. He found that this reaction was activated by the release of adrenalin. In 1931 Cannon discovered a substance resembling adrenalin, which he called sympathin and considered a hormone. The existence of this new substance made it quite clear that there was chemical mediation of autonomic nerve impulses.

Cited references: Garrison-Morton 1124