The Hypothalamus is an important area of the brain for understanding a variety of neurological disorders. This volume summarizes for readers the anatomy and physiology of the middle and posterior hypothalamus, to better understand pathology and treatment of hypothalamus related disorders. In addition to anatomy and physiology in humans, cytoarchitecture and chemoarchitecture in rodents is provided. The volume explores the role of the hypothalamus in disorders of eating, sleeping, anxiety, and mood, as well as its role in sexual behavior and gender identity. Coverage includes how Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and other neurological disorders relate to the hypothalamus.

1. Introduction: The middle and posterior hypothalamus SECTION 6  Supraoptic and paraventricular nucleus more than a neuroendocrine system2. Vasopressin and oxytocin beyond the pituitary in the human brain3. Central and peripheral release of oxytocin: Relevance of neuroendocrine and neurotransmitter actions for physiology and behavior 4. Organization of the neuroendocrine and autonomic hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus 5. Sex differences of oxytocin and vasopressin in social behaviors 6. Oxytocin, eating behavior, and metabolism in humans 7. The supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei in healthy aging and neurodegeneration8. Perinatal stress and epigenetics 9. The hypothalamus in anxiety disorders 10. Congenital isolated central hypothyroidism: Novel mutations and their functional implications SECTION 7  Zona incerta11. The zona incerta system: Involvement in attention and movementSECTION 8  Ventromedial nucleus and dorsomedial nucleus12. The role of the dorsomedial and ventromedial hypothalamus in regulating behaviorally coupled and resting autonomic drive SECTION 9  Circumventricular organs of the hypothalamus13. The subfornical organ and organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis: Critical roles in cardiovascular regulation and the control of fluid balance 14. Lamina terminalis fenestration: An important neurosurgical corridor 15. Arcuate nucleus, median eminence, and hypophysial pars tuberalis16. Tanycytes in the infundibular nucleus and median eminence and their role in the blood-brain barrier 17. The human hypothalamic kisspeptin system: Functional neuroanatomy and clinical perspectives 18. Kisspeptin and neurokinin B expression in the human hypothalamus: Relation to reproduction and gender identity 19. The infundibular peptidergic neurons and glia cells in overeating, obesity, and diabetes20. Hypothalamus and weight loss in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis SECTION 10  Lateral tuberal nucleusSECTION 11  Lateral hypothalamic area, perifornical area21. The orexin/hypocretin system in neuropsychiatric disorders: Relation to signs and symptoms 22. Pleasure, addiction, and hypocretin (orexin) SECTION 12  Tuberomamillary complex23. Histamine receptors, agonists, and antagonists in health and disease 24. The tuberomamillary nucleus in neuropsychiatric disordersSECTION 13  Subthalamic nucleus25. Imaging of the human subthalamic nucleus 26. Neuropsychiatric effects of subthalamic deep brain stimulation 27. The subthalamic nucleus and the placebo effect in Parkinson's disease SECTION 14   Corpora mamillaria, fornix, and mamillothalamic tract28. Electrical stimulation of the fornix for the treatment of brain diseases 29. The contribution of mamillary body damage to Wernicke's encephalopathy and Korsakoff's syndrome