The Science behind emotions: what causes changes in moods?
- Chloe Cheng
- Sep 29
- 3 min read
Chloe Cheng
“How are you?” is a phrase we hear nearly every day in the school halls, our homes, or even from a clerk in a store. Most people would answer “good” or “great,” even if they’re having a terrible day. However, the fake smile plastered on their faces reveals what they’re actually feeling and a battle between brain chemicals. A student may be skipping their way to each class and laughing with every peer they encounter, while another is barely dragging themselves out of bed and falling asleep during class. This drastic difference between these students is determined by their hormones that stimulate emotions. Humans are built to seek happiness and steer away from pain, but there are many neurotransmitters that influence how one is feeling, a few being serotonin, dopamine, and cortisol that 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. It flows through the blood, acting as a messenger between the brain and the body, helping a person function properly. Serotonin influences a person’s memory, learning, and happiness. 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 most likely develop depression or anxiety; thus, many medications to treat these conditions work to increase the levels of serotonin in the brain. If serotonin levels are too high, a person will develop serotonin syndrome, which causes 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. 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 boost happiness.
Dopamine, another neurotransmitter and hormone, known as the “feel good” hormone, affects the “reward center” of our brains. Similar to serotonin, it relays messages from the brain to the rest of the body through the bloodstream. It is made by the adrenal gland and is also 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 when people sense danger. Humans naturally seek things that trigger the release of dopamine in our reward system, and it helps motivate people to do things. When people do things they enjoy, their brains release dopamine that makes them feel good; however, this is also the reason many people develop addictions, since they keep doing what releases large amounts of dopamine that make them happy. Low dopamine levels are associated with ADHD, Parkinson’s disease, and depression, while high dopamine levels may lead to obesity and addiction. To naturally increase dopamine levels, people consume foods that are rich in magnesium and amino acid tyrosine, such as chicken, almonds, apples, avocados, and bananas, which are what make up dopamine. Doing things that help you relax, such as exercise, meditation, yoga, and reading a book, also helps increase dopamine levels to make one feel good.
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 response, metabolism, inflammation, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. The human body constantly monitors the amount of cortisol being made through the pituitary gland in the brain, since too much or too little of it can cause many negative effects. Developing high levels 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 system attacking healthy cells. To maintain healthy levels of cortisol, getting quality sleep, exercising, and maintaining healthy relationships are important to regulate stress levels and develop more positive emotions.
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 suppresses dopamine production, so an overload of serotonin causes a deficiency in dopamine production, and vice versa. When dopamine levels are too low, the body will increase cortisol production to try to function without dopamine. The imbalance and irregular levels of these hormones will influence a person’s mood. Therefore, the ratio of the “happy hormones” and “stress hormones” is a big factor in the changes in someone’s emotions.
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