How Our Biochemistry Impacts Our Personality

Each new day in our life brings forth a new set of responsibilities and duties, waiting to be fulfilled. It feels daunting to tread on the road which you’re aware is riddled with impedances, enticing to slow us down in our course. It is, however, noteworthy that these challenges that are posed to us can redefine our personality based on how we formulate our stimulus towards them.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. The human body is one such thing of beauty — it is the world’s most sophisticated masterpiece of art. So complex, that it is still not truly comprehensible even to this day despite the developments happening in leaps and bounds. In our day-to-day deliberations of idealistic traits and behavior, we often stress on the importance of how we ought to ameliorate any erroneous habits and quite ignorantly, talk about how it’s all in the mind. That’s the biggest lie — pretending as if what we think influences our emotions. Factually speaking, our body’s biochemistry, namely the manifold hormones, can control us to a larger extent than we might surmise. This blog will shed light upon some of the common biochemical factors in our body that impact us.

1. Serotonin: Serotonin is a chemical present in our brain (more specifically, the enteric nervous system) and it primarily acts as a neurotransmitter, relaying messages back and forth in our nervous system. It has a great many useful functions including inducing proper sleep, bowel movements, affecting bone health et cetera.

But what makes this relevant in our discussion is its prominence in regulating our mood. Clinical studies have proven that low levels of serotonin in our body tend to exacerbate anxiety and depression whilst enhanced levels can lead to pleasure and tranquility (at even higher levels, it causes arousal) — which is indispensable for the emotional well-being of our body.

According to a study published by the World Psychiatry journal, even though the correlation of serotonin and our emotions have not been concretely established, this can be slightly gleaned from studies of “tryptophan depletion” — where an acute dietary manipulation is employed to produce a transient lowering in brain serotonin activity through diminishing availability of its precursor amino acid, tryptophan. This might not show any noticeable changes in individuals deemed as healthy but in patients who have been erstwhile relying on therapy to deal with depression — it might cause renewed depression symptomology.

In fact, many of the anti-depressant drugs that are in use today work by altering serotonin levels by inhibiting its breakdown by using monoamine oxidase inhibitors, thus increasing its level in the bloodstream.

Excessive serotonin has, however, been associated with many side effects as well, some of which comprise — osteoporosis of bones (weakening), high blood pressure, heavy sweating, seizures, cardiac arrhythmia, etc. It is imperative that optimum levels be maintained while on medication so that it doesn’t intervene with the normal functioning of our body.

2. Dopamine: Dopamine, just like serotonin, is an organic chemical in our brain acting as a neurotransmitter. Among the multiple uses, the more important functions of this chemical are — coordinating motor control, regulating vital brain activities like memorization, learning, sleep & concentration.

It is popularly known as the stimulus for pleasure and reward and is said to be secreted when a person expects reward in return for doing something (technically known as motivational salience). Even though it is relatively obscure to know how it causes this behavior, many scientists and researchers have linked it to the fact that active dopamine receptors in the basal ganglia region of the brain are indicative of “reward-seeking” behavior. In addition, D1 and D4 receptors are responsible for the cognitive-enhancing effects of dopamine which are linked to memory and problem-solving.

Dopamine deficiency can lead to a plethora of symptoms and conditions some of which are — Parkinson’s disease (which affects motor control function of the brain), schizophrenia (split-personality disorder), psychosis (hallucinations), ADHD, and depression, to name a few. On the flip side, excessive dopamine can cause addiction to drugs and alcohol, nausea, and other symptoms similar to serotonin overdose.

3. Epinephrine: Epinephrine, more commonly known as adrenaline, is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands. It can also function as a neurotransmitter like the other two chemicals previously discussed or as a hormone that can help implement indispensable requirements of the body in small quantities.

Adrenaline’s most pragmatic usage, which most of us are aware of comprises preparing the body for action or response to “fight-or-flight” based dire situations and promulgates vigilance, retrieval of memory, and focuses attention to ward off any imminent threat. Due to this reason, it has often been depicted as an “energy-booster” or “game-changer” in popular culture due to the surge in the performance that it can bring about in a person.

Much of its effects are very much alike to dopamine as it increases the amount of glucose in the blood so that more energy is available and consequently, results in increased blood sugar and certainty of restlessness. Low levels of adrenaline are a warning sign as they’re indicative of ADHD, hypotension, and other associated perils.

4. Oestrogen & Testosterone: These are hormones produced by the reproductive organs of our body (primarily in females and males, respectively). Apart from their vital roles in the development of those organs, and activities such as puberty, menstruation, etc., they greatly influence a person’s attributes.

A study published in Nature’s Fare opines that testosterone in men can cause confidence and develop traits of optimism and intrepidity. Individuals abounding in this usually tend to be more rational, analytical and tough-minded and work well under duress and adapt to times of calamities. Similarly, oestrogen is indicative of an altruistic approach to life in general and being “emotionally expressive” and idealistic.

And of course, it is well-known how these hormones stimulate feelings of love and courtship between couples. These also play a vital role in sustaining a robust mental health in respective genders, especially after some stressful (can be physical/mental) event has recently elapsed.

There are many more biochemicals that shape our thoughts and demeanor than those aforementioned. But the above ones are quite dominant in the functions that they perform such that it warranted a general awareness about them. These biochemicals are more important than we think for our overall well-being, and it is noteworthy that a proper, healthy diet with regular exercising can keep their levels steady in our body and act as replenishment for any situations wherein they may be required.