The Chemistry of Emotions
Introduction
Emotions are very complex and have different meanings to
different people, but essentially, emotions are a conscious experience that are
categorized by states of mind, external and internal reactions, and
expressions. I chose emotions for my project because they are huge part of
everyday life, and emotions affect the decisions we make, and the people we
are. I also think that the human brain is fascinating and that studying what it
can do is fun.
Composition of ...
Not only are there chemical components of emotions, but there
are others such as physical components as well. I’ll start with the chemical
components. There are so many chemicals involved with emotions that only the
most important ones can be listed. The following are neurotransmitters:
dopamine (C8H11NO2), serotonin (C10H12N2O), noradrenaline (C8H11NO3),
acetylcholine (C7NH16O2+), histamine (C5H9N3), GABA (C4H9NO2), and glutamic
acid (C5H9NO4). The other components are not chemical components but are parts
of the emotional experience. They are cognitive appraisal, bodily symptoms,
action, tendencies, expression, and feelings.
Main Chemicals, Compounds, Components
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter. A neurotransmitter is a
chemical substance that transmits nerve impulses across a synapse to a
postsynaptic element such as another nerve, muscle or gland. Neurotransmitters
have a large impact on mood and emotions, and a surplus or lack of
neurotransmitters can cause behavioral problems. Neurotransmitter balance has a
connection to health, nutrition, environmental factors, external emotional
stimulus, and genetic factors. Dopamine (C8H11NO2) is made out of carbon,
hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen.
It is involved in focus, drive, attention, memory, and thinking clearly. Arvid Carlson discovered dopamine in 1957. It was discovered in Lund, Sweden. Dopamine has a big role in positive emotions, and a lack of dopamine can cause parkinson's disease. Dopamine is also instrumental to the storage and creation of new memories.
Serotonin
Serotonin regulates emotions. With enough of it, we feel
happy, optimistic, etc. However, when there is a lack of serotonin, there can
be depression, anxiety, irritability, etc.
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Chemistry's Role
Dopamine is a naturally occurring chemical. It is produced by
the human body, not by man. (However, dopamine can be produced by man and used
in the form injectable drugs such as Intropin, Dopastat, and Revimine to treat
certain illnesses affecting the nervous system.) Dopamine isn’t produced in
just one area of the brain. It’s produced in several areas. These areas include
substantia nigra, the ventral tegmental area, hypothalamus, the arcuate
nucleus, the zona incerta, and the periventricular nucleus. Within these areas,
nerve cell bodies manufacture dopamine.
Like dopamine, serotonin is produced in the brain, but it can
also be produced by man. Serotonin is synthesized from the amino acid
L-tryptophan by a short metabolic pathway consisting of two enzymes: amino acid
decarboxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase. Serotonin can be produced in the lab
using Psilocybe coprophila and Aspergillus niger as catalysts. Ethanol, HCL,
NaOH, and water are also involved in the process. The first phase to
5-hydroxytryptophan would require allowing tryptophan sit in ethanol and water
for seven days, then stirring in enough HCl to bring the pH to three, and then
adding NaOH to make a pH of 13 for one hour. Aspergillus niger is the catalyst
for this first step. The second step to synthesizing tryptophan itself from the
5-hydroxytryptophan intermediate would require adding ethanol and water, and
letting sit for 30 days. The next two steps would be the same as the first
phase: adding HCl to make the pH = three, and then adding NaOH to make the pH
very basic at 13 for one hour. This phase uses the Psilocybe coprophila as the
catalyst.
Background Research
There are many different emotions, including affection,
anger, angst, anguish, annoyance, anxiety, apathy, arousal, awe, boredom,
confidence, contempt, contentment, courage, curiosity, depression, desire,
despair, disappointment, disgust, distrust, dread, ecstasy, embarrassment,
envy, euphoria, excitement, fear, frustration, gratitude, grief, guilt, happiness,
hatred, hope, horror, hostility, hurt, hysteria, indifference, interest,
jealousy, joy, loathing, loneliness, love, lust, outrage, panic, passion, pity,
pleasure, pride, rage, regret, relief, remorse, sadness, satisfaction,
self-confidence, shame, shock, shyness, sorrow, suffering, surprise, terror,
trust, wonder, worry, zeal, and zest.
Emotions are not really made out of anything, but how we feel
emotions can be described. Emotions come from the arousal of the nervous
system. Neurotransmitters and hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin, are
chemicals that are involved in the process of feeling emotions.
Millions of chemical reactions take place in the brain at any
given time. Chemical reactions occur because of synapses. Synapses are parts of
the nervous system, and it is through these that neurons are able to transmit
messages using neurotransmitters.
Emotions are typically measured in physiological responses,
such as a pounding heart, sweating, blood rushing to the face, and the release
of adrenaline. Expression is also a major part of emotions. Expression is
associated with parts of the nervous system such as the motor cortex, limbic
system, and the brain stem. The parts of the nervous system that affect emotion
the most are the frontal lobes and the amygdala. The frontal cortex is usually
associated with feelings of happiness and pleasure. The amygdala is usually
associated with feelings of anger, fear, and sadness.
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