Most of us come to associate chemistry, as something that only happens in laboratories, with reactions of explosive solutions and mixtures, in the creation of materials, each of them linked to external processes. But !, as I have indicated in previous publications, there is a great variety of reactions and chemical processes that take place inside the human body.

Yes !, in your body and in mine.

Until now, the processes that we have discussed are those linked to learning, that is, to the cognitive reactions that occur in our brain, even in obtaining or generating energy through ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

But!, in addition to these, the truth is that chemistry also intervenes in other reactions and processes within our body, which in principle we attribute to the heart, such as the processes that we call emotions and feelings.

As I said in the beginning, today we will explain the chemistry behind emotions, the five most basic, so get ready to know what neurotransmitters or hormones act for each emotion, as well as the chemical process that takes place.

Is there a difference between neurotransmitter and hormone?

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Absolutely yes, a neurotransmitter and a hormone are very different. The difference is in the place where they go or with whom they communicate, a neurotransmitter is directed only towards one type of cell, "neurons".

By the way! The process that occurs between cells when information is sent is called synapse.

Hormones unlike neurotransmitters communicate with other cells and travel through the bloodstream.

Joy

The neurotransmitter that produces joy is dopamine. If you want to know how it works, we will tell you that dopamine generates feelings in the body that make us have this state of mind.

Now, if our body has low levels of dopamine, even our ability to relate to others is affected, in other words, we are not so available for sociality.

Dopamine is not only a neurotransmitter, it is also a neuro-hormone. It is produced by the hypothalamus. And its chemical name is 4- (2-aminoethyl) benzene-1,2-diol.

Love

In order for us to feel "love", the combination of dopamine and oxytocin must be given, which is a hormone that is generated in the pituitary gland.

Oxytocin is a hormone that works the same as a neurotransmitter. It intervenes in our ability to relate to others (socialize), but it is also related to ... pleasure, orgasms and feelings of compassion, generosity and trust.

Its formula is C43-H66-N12-S2.

Hate

Hatred is the opposite of love, in fact, the accumulation of events in which you feel or will unleash anger in you.

The levels of "serotonin" in our body will produce feelings of hatred.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that works as an inhibitor, the lower the levels the more osio you will feel, likewise, this feeling will influence body temperature. Additionally, sexual desire will be regulated along with dopamine.

That is why a low level of serotonin can cause you to be a person with anger or aggressiveness problems.

Its chemical name is 5-hydroxytryptamine.

Sadness

For you to feel sad, your body must generate a substance that works as a hormone or neurotransmitter, this substance is called norepinephrine (or norepinephrine).

Norepinephrine can keep you alert, this will help you react to dangerous situations, this is possible because our natural instinct is activated.

Additionally, this substance can affect our states of concern. Low levels of norepinephrine can produce in you:
inattention, poor attention span, and depression.

Its name is 4 - [(1R) -2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl] benzene-1,2-diol.

Afraid

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For you to feel fear, dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine must be combined.

Remember that these three are neurotransmitters, and the mixture of them will produce fear in your body and in your mind. There are other sensations such as anguish and anxiety that are felt thanks to the mixture of these neurotransmitters.

We leave the following questions for reflection:

• is chemistry necessary in the body?
• neurotransmitters and hormones play an important role?
• What would happen if these neurotransmitters did not work?
• Could we express ourselves without them?
• Could we have feelings, emotions without them?

I hope the topic has been to your liking and they serve to learn to know you more, you, your body and what you feel, as well as why they happen within you.