The pineal gland, also called the third eye, was one of the last parts of the human brain to be fully understood.
Researchers have only recently begun to reveal the function of the pineal gland. Neuroscience for a long time focused on isolating the separate roles of the different brain parts.
However, the brain was found to have functional areas that work in groups rather than one part doing one separate job. The pineal gland is one of those multi-faceted areas.
It was well established that the pineal gland releases melatonin to direct circadian rhythms and sleep cycles. However, it’s now known to have a far broader purpose.
As a conductor of the endocrine system, the pineal gland controls hormone signals to all organs. It plays a dual neural-endocrine role with functions spanning into all bodily systems.
Today, evidence suggests the pineal gland is the master conductor of the physiology of the brain and body.
In this article, we’ll outline the history and advances in research that reveals what the pineal gland really does.
- – Located behind the third cerebral ventricle in the brain midline (between the two hemispheres).
- – In adult humans, it is about 0.8 cm (0.3 inches) long and weighs approximately 0.1 gram (0.004 ounces).
- – Rich supply of adrenergic nerves(neurons sensitive to the adrenal hormone epinephrine)
- – In utero, it develops from the roof of the diencephalon, a section of the brain.
