In my previous post I discussed the 4 regions of the brain that are affected by meditation.  To review they are the striatum and nucleus accumbens, the limbic system, the frontal lobe, and the prefrontal cortex.  We discussed how these parts of the brain are layered on top of each other.  The striatum and nucleus accumbens are the very bottom layer at the center of the brain.  Also, the deeper you go down into these layers you go the more primitive they become.  Now we are going to discuss the neurochemistry associated with each of these layers.  There are three neurochemicals that effect these different regions of the brain.  They are dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin .  I’m going to briefly discuss each one and how it functions.

Dopamine

Dopamine effects the striatum and nucleus accumbens.  Remember this part of the brain is responsible for controlling behaviors related to rewards and avoidance of pain.  Dopamine is responsible for creating feelings of joy with instant gratification.  It also plays a role in making impulsive decisions.  In essence it responsible for creating and reinforcing all our habits whether they are good or bad.  When we are faced with stressful situations dopamine is produced and we instinctually revert to the habits we have formed to cope with the stressful situation.  Therefore, addictive behaviors are so hard to break.

Norepinephrine

Norepinephrine effects the frontal lobe and the prefrontal cortex.  It is responsible for helping us focus.  Think of it as the fuel source for all higher-level brain activities the frontal lobe and prefrontal cortex are responsible for.  These include our basic cognitive skills, critical thinking, and self-control.  For a full list of functions associated with these two areas of the brain refer to my previous post “How Meditation Effects the Brain”.

Serotonin

Serotonin effects all four parts of the brain we have discussed, including the limbic system.  A quick reminder that the limbic system is the seat of our emotions and is responsible for our survival instincts.  This neurochemical is used with delayed gratification.  Serotonin allows us to stay motivated while we are working to achieve long-term goals.  Achieving our long-term goals gives us the emotional reward we seek.  In effect it stimulates both the reward and habit center of the brain and the part responsible for self-control.

We are consciously able to use these neurochemicals to manipulate the neurotransmitters in our brains.  With some simple actions and thoughts, we can start reprograming our minds to get rid of old habits and form new ones.  I will discuss these in my next post.