Brain Awareness Week: How Does Your Brain Affect Your Mood?

Your brain is a machine. Day in and day out, it helps wake you up in the morning, solve problems both in and out of the office as well as letting you feel the emotions that help make you human. Every day, your brain ‘talks’ to itself with the help of chemicals that transmit from one neuron to another. These transmissions come in 2 categories: excitatory (stimulation) or inhibitory (calming) which can either positively or negatively affect your moods and emotions.

To help celebrate National Brain Awareness Week (3/16 to 3/22), here are ways that your brain can change the way you think and feel based on the two neurotransmitters:

Serotonin – This often-discussed chemical falls under that ‘inhibitory’ branch of neurotransmitters. An essential element of how well you sleep, serotonin is also believed to be linked to your mood. Researchers believe there is a link in lower levels of serotonin with increased feelings of depression. The best way to get more of this chemical is by eating a diet rich with tryptophan (like turkey) or partaking in regular aerobic exercise like walking or hiking.

Dopamine – This chemical can act as both an excitatory and as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, depending on where it’s being used in your brain! In general, dopamine plays a role in how you process and control things such as your motivations, desires and even cravings. Having higher levels of dopamine can leave you feeling calm or happy and can increase your concentration and motivation for certain things.

Glutamate – Considered to be the most common excitatory transmitter in your brain, this chemical can also be found in your spinal cord. Glutamate plays the crucial role in helping you to develop cognition, how you learn and your overall memory.

Norepinephrine – Sometimes acting as both a natural hormone and a chemical, norepinephrine plays a role along with adrenaline to create that ‘fight or flight’ feeling when you’re stressed. It also works as part of your sleep-wake cycle to help wake you up and get you ready for the morning. It has been shown that low levels of it are sometimes associated with anxiety, depression, substance abuse and even PTSD. High levels can also be linked to panic attacks, higher levels of blood pressure and hyperactivity, so be wary of how your body is reacting! In the end, increases of norepinephrine can leave you feeling happy while low levels can leave you feeling lethargic and unable to concentrate.