By Eileen Renders
When we think of feelings it brings to mind thoughts of love, anger, sadness, loneliness, regret, joy, and a host of autonomic or spontaneous emotions such as happiness that lifts us and we spend the day smiling at whomever we meet or emotions that trigger thoughts of retaliation and resentment. Are we each unique in how our body responds to stimuli that assert our feelings?
According to Navnidhi Sharma in Project Gallery regarding the Limbic System, as written in Scientia News, Navnidhi delves into his article Emotional chemistry on a molecular level” explaining the chemistry behind emotions and explores how neurotransmitters, hormones, and brain regions collaborate to orchestrate the symphony of our feelings.
To touch upon a few of such chemistries, let’s take a look at a few of these neurotransmitters and hormones;
The amygdala is the emotional center of the brain. It analyses emotional stimuli triggers, is particularly sensitive to those associated with aggressiveness and fear, and recalls previous emotional memories.
Cortisol known as the stress hormone is associated with the body’s fight-or-flight response and is released while under fear, threat, and anxiety. Feeling trapped, and threatened will increase cortisol levels.
Dopamine is often referred to as the “reward neurotransmitter”, and is associated with pleasure. Dopamine is released whenever we receive a reward, and this pleasure reinforces that behavior and motivates us to seek more of these experiences.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GAMMA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, that counteracts the effects of excitatory neurotransmitters, to maintain emotional stability by calming and soothing the brain.
Norepinephrine is also a component of the body’s fight-or-flight response that causes increased attention and arousal in reaction to stress or danger
Serotonin is known for its critical function in controlling mood, appetite, and sleep. Anxiety and sadness have been associated with low serotonin levels.
Other areas of the brain that are associated with our feelings and emotions to mention a few are the Prefrontal Cortex and the Hippocampus.
Understanding a bit more about our feelings and emotions can be useful in ensuring that we are doing all in our power to maintain balance. Also, by becoming proactive through a healthy lifestyle, and by not allowing our emotions to overpower our intellect, we will be less likely to overreact to feelings of stress, anxiety, or fear.
Although we often cannot control our intuition or feelings, we might utilize our common sense by remembering that saying; “I/E Intelligence over Emotions.”
MAYO CLINIC diet for healthy brain
Mayo Clinic experts recommend diets rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and fish for maintaining healthy hormone and neurotransmitter levels.
It is strongly recommended that you obtain your doctor’s approval before taking any supplements or herbs. Any information obtained in a Research article is not meant to be a substitute for your doctor’s recommendations. Certain conditions and or medications could cause a negative reaction.
Eileen Renders is a retired nutrition counselor, health research writer, author, and publisher with more than a dozen published titles on www.Amazon.com She founded the First Wellness Center in Atlantic County in 1995 and was a provider for Cigna and United Healthcare.
