The Science Behind Emotions: Hormones That Cause Mood Change

“How are you?” is a phrase we hear nearly every day in the school halls, our homes, or even from the clerk in a store. Most people answer with “Good” or “Great,” even if they are having a terrible day. However, under the fake smile plastered on their faces are the true feelings they are hiding and a battle of the brain chemicals. Emotions are products of brain chemistry, and there are many neurotransmitters and hormones that influence how one is feeling, with a few being serotonin, dopamine, and cortisol, which go hand-in-hand in affecting mood.

Serotonin, also known as the “happy chemical,” is a neurotransmitter and hormone created in the brain and intestine (“The Science of Happiness”). It flows through the bloodstream acting as a messenger between the brain and the body which helps a person to function properly. Serotonin influences a person’s memory, learning, and happiness (“Serotonin”). When serotonin levels are normal, a person is able to concentrate, feel more at peace, and be emotionally stable. When serotonin levels are lower than average, a person will likely exhibit symptoms of depression or anxiety. Thus, many medications for these disorders work to increase the levels of serotonin in the brain (“Serotonin”). However, if serotonin levels are too high, a person may develop serotonin syndrome which can cause seizures, fainting, and irregular heartbeat patterns. Serotonin is made from the amino acid “tryptophan” which our bodies don’t produce, so we are only able to gain this amino acid through the foods that we eat (“Serotonin”). Therefore, one way to increase serotonin levels is by eating foods like salmon, eggs, nuts, tofu, and pineapple that have tryptophan. Getting enough sunlight, eating supplements, and exercising are also methods to increase serotonin levels and thus boost happiness (“Serotonin”).

Dopamine, another neurotransmitter and hormone that is known as the “feel good” hormone, affects the reward center of the brain. Similar to serotonin, dopamine relays messages from the brain to the rest of the body through the bloodstream (“Dopamine”). It is produced by the adrenal gland then released in the brain. Dopamine contributes to a person’s memory, movement, reward system, behavior, sleep, and attention. It also helps the brain detect danger as it plays a role in the “fight or flight” response. Humans naturally seek things that trigger the release of dopamine in the reward system as it motivates people to do things they enjoy (“Dopamine”). When people perform tasks that they find pleasure in, their brains release dopamine which makes them feel good; however, this is also the reason many people develop addictions since they become addicted to the activities that release large amounts of dopamine. At extreme levels, low dopamine levels are associated with ADHD, Parkinson’s disease, and depression, while high dopamine levels may lead to obesity and addiction (“Dopamine”). To naturally increase too-low dopamine levels, consuming foods that are rich in magnesium and amino acid tyrosine such as chicken, almonds, apples, avocados, and bananas is effective. Doing relaxing things such as exercising, meditating, yoga, and reading, also helps increase dopamine levels to make one feel good (“Dopamine”).

Lastly, cortisol, known as the “stress hormone,” is also made in the adrenal gland, and it affects almost all the organs in the body. It regulates stress responses, metabolism, inflammation, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels (“The Science of Happiness”)​​. The human body constantly monitors the amount of cortisol being made through the pituitary gland, or the master gland, in the brain since too much or too little of it has many negative effects. Developing a high level of cortisol may lead to anxiety, depression, diabetes, and high blood pressure while having not enough cortisol can lead to fatigue, weight loss, and low blood sugar, which is most commonly caused by the autoimmune attacking healthy cells. To maintain healthy levels of cortisol, getting quality sleep, exercising, and maintaining healthy relationships are important as they help regulate stress levels to develop more positive emotions (“Cortisol”).

Serotonin, dopamine, and cortisol affect each other and cause changes in mood, especially when they are imbalanced. Neurotransmitters work together to balance the hormone levels in the brain, so a change in the level of one hormone may cause changes in another (“Serotonin”). For instance, serotonin suppresses dopamine production, so an overload of serotonin causes a deficiency in dopamine production and vice versa. Additionally, when dopamine levels are too low, the body will increase cortisol production to try and function without dopamine. The imbalance and irregular levels of these hormones will then drastically influence a person’s mood (“Dopamine and Cortisol”). Therefore, the ratio of the “happy hormones” and “stress hormones” is a big factor in the changes in someone’s emotions. For this reason, people are encouraged to understand the scientific aspect of why they are feeling a certain emotion so that they are able to have better control over it.

References

“Serotonin.” Cleveland Clinic. 18 Mar. 2022. my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22572-serotonin#:~:text=Serotonin. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

“Cortisol.” Cleveland Clinic. 10 Dec. 2021. my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22187-cortisol. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

“The Science of Happiness.” Tony Robbins. www.tonyrobbins.com/mental-health/science-of-happiness/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

“Dopamine.” Cleveland Clinic. 23 Mar. 2022. my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22581-dopamine. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

“Serotonin vs. Dopamine: What Are the Differences?” Very Well Health. 18 Apr. 2022. medium.com/@EricBravermanMD/dopamine-and-cortisol-6662cd5cac7fhttps://www.verywellhealth.com/serotonin-vs-dopamine-5194081. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.