This week many people experienced fear, rage, anger. Turns out that chemistry is everywhere, it is even linked with your emotions. Happiness, fear and other emotions can be explained by chemistry. Chemical messengers called neurotransmitters are released in the brain which can cause someone to be happy, sad, mad, ecstatic, and much more. Synapses is a part of the nervous system that uses neurotransmitters to allow a neuron to communicate a message. Reactions and expressions are connected to the motor cortex, limbic system, and the brain system. Happiness and pleasure are connected with the frontal cortex, while anger/fear/sadness are connected to the amygdala. When you get super stressed out, your brain releases hormones. Once the stress is over, your brain releases a calming signal in response to the prior stress.
- Norepinephrine and epinephrine = Stress fighting hormones
Norepinephine is responsible for the increase in blood pressure and breathing rate when you get stressed out. It is released by adrenal glands and is involved in the fighting response to stress.
Epinephrine, also known as adrenalin, is released by the medulla of the adrenal glands. It creates a stress response and brings out emotions like fear/anger. If there is little of this, one may have depression, while na excess of this is seen in schizophrenia or other mood disorders.
-Serotonin = Happiness Hormone
Serotonin regulates mood, aggression, thinking and memory abilities. With the right amount of serotonin, there is relaxation. With too much serotonin there is apathy, which is related with lack of will, bad moods, anxiety, depression, and poor appetite. Depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and more are connected to levels of serotonin. Meditations increases levels of serotonin by not allowing the brain to produce stress.
-Acetylcholine = Information Processor Neurotransmitter
Acetylcholine is in charge of the muscle movement, alertness, concentration, and memory. When the levels are good, mood is elevated, the mind is focused, and intelligence is increased. If levels are low, there are low levels of learning, recall, and ability to think. It also controls emotions like anger, fear, agression, and rage.
