In its early years, the research activity of the Department of Physiology was focused on studies in the fields of autonomic regulation, biorhythms, thermoregulation, and the psycho-emotional state of humans.
Later, scientific investigations were carried out related to the regulation of erythropoiesis, thrombopoiesis, leukopoiesis, hemostasis, and iron metabolism.
Research was also conducted on spinal mechanisms of motor control, the regulation of arterial hypo- and hypertensive responses, and anemic conditions.
Research topics in the physiology unit in recent years
In recent years, the research themes in the Physiology Unit have been oriented in the following directions:
- Hormonal regulation of hemostasis
- Functional brain asymmetry: the impact of brain asymmetry on behavior and the control of physiological functions; features of lateralization of brain functions and neuroendocrine control related to manual dominance and sex; neuroendocrine asymmetries
- Neurophysiological and neuropharmacological studies on the role of brain neurotransmitter and neuromodulator systems in the mechanisms of behavioral responses
- Renal functions – clinical and physiological studies in replacement therapy; certain aspects of mineral metabolism in the body, including calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium metabolism
- Issues in higher education: successes and challenges in physiology teaching
- Neuromodulation and biofeedback training
- Issues in metabolic diseases, lipidology, and chronic liver diseases
The faculty members of the Physiology Unit have participated in the development of national and international scientific projects. They take part annually in scientific forums both in Bulgaria and abroad. Their publication activity includes titles in prestigious journals and conference proceedings, as well as scientific monographs. Research teams have published the results of their studies in both Bulgarian and international editions.
Brief list of publications:
1. P. Nikolova, Z. Stoyanov, N. Negrev. Functional brain asymmetry, handedness and menarcheal age. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 1994, 18: 213-215.
2. P. Nikolova, N. Negrev, Z. Stoyanov, R. Nikolova. Functional brain asymmetry, handedness and age characteristics of climacterium in women. International Journal of Neuroscience, 1996, 86: 143-149.
3. N. Negrev, P. Nikolova, R. Nikolova. Serum levels of female sex hormones in left-handed and right-handed menopausal women. Laterality, 2000, 5(1): 69-75.
4. N. Negrev, R. Z. Radev, M. Velikova, A. Anogeianaki. Effects of the hormones of the thyroid axis on the vitamin K-dependent plasma factors of blood coagulation (II, VII, IX, and X). Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol, 2008, 21(1):221-226.
5. M. Ivanova, A. Ternianov, S. Belcheva, R. Tashev, N. Negrev, I. Belcheva. Hippocampal asymmetry in exploratory behavior to vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. Peptides, 2008, 29(6): 940-947.
6. M. Ivanova, A. Ternianov, R. Tashev, S. Belcheva, I. Belcheva. Lateralized learning and memory effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide infused into the rat hippocampal CA1 area. Regulatory Peptides, 2009, 156(1-3): 42-46.
7. Z. Stoyanov, M. Marinov, I. Pashalieva. Finger length ratio (2D:4D) in left- and right-handed males. International Journal of Neuroscience, 2009, 119(7): 1006-1013.
8. N. Negrev, Y. Nyagolov, M. Stefanova, E. Stancheva. Thyroid hormonal axis regulates protein C anticoagulation pathway in rats Central European Journal of Biology, 2011, 6(4): 518-523.
9. Z. Stoyanov, I. Vartanyan, P. Nikolova. Psychophysiological reactivity and personality traits of left- and right-handers during intense mental load. Human Physiology, 2011, 37(6): 679-681.
10. Z. Stoyanov, P. Nikolova, I. Pashalieva. Season of birth, Geschwind and Galaburda hypothesis, and handedness. Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain and Cognition, 2011, 16(5): 607-619.
11. З. Стоянов. Мозъчна асиметрия и леворъкост: причини и отражения в поведението. Издателство „Славена", Варна, 2011.
12. Z. Stoyanov, L. Decheva, I. Pashalieva, P. Nikolova. Brain asymmetry, immunity, handedness. Central European Journal of Medicine, 2012, 7(1): 1-8.
13. М. Ivanova , Belcheva S., Belcheva I., Negrev N., Tashev R. Lateralized hippocampal effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide on learning and memory in rats in a model of depression. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2012, 221(4):561-74.
14. I. Pashalieva, E. Stancheva, L. Decheva,Y. Nyagolov, N. Negrev. Experimental data about melatonin effects on platelet count and functional activity. Comptes rendus de l'Acad´emie bulgare des Sciences, 2012, 65(6): 855-860.
15. Z. Stoyanov, I. Boncheva, P. Nikolova, M. Ivanova. Neuroticism and Vascular Response to Mental Load. WebmedCentral PHYSIOLOGY 2013;4(1):WMC003951.
16. M. Ivanova, S. Belcheva, I. Belcheva, Z. Stoyanov, R. Tashev. Modulatory effect of VIP injected into hippocampal CA1 area on anxiety in olfactory bulbectomized rats. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars). 2014;74(3):317-27.
17. З. Стоянов. Психофизиология на пола. Университетско издателство на МУ–Варна, 2014.
