Effects of Neurotransmission on
Human BehaviorIB Psychology
Taken from:Levels of Analysis in Psychology By: Jennie Jamison
Neurotransmission affects everything and
everything affects neurotransmission!
Neurotransmission and Behavior
We have already discussed how neurotransmitters are important messengers in our bodies.
Link between neurotransmitter imbalance and impaired functioning…dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin.
Food and Mood
Why do people fail to eat properly?
Diet and Neurotransmission
The building blocks of normal neurotransmitter function starts prenatally.
Continued poor diet negatively affects one’s ability to cope with life stressors.
Life stressors lead to increased stress hormones which lead to higher risk of mental and physical health problems.
Diet and Neurotransmitters
Food impacts how neurotransmitters function in the brain, which affects behavior.
Approximately 70 neurotransmitters regulate functioning and contribute to normal functioning.
Serotonin Serotonin is linked to: depression, antisocial
behavior, autism, anxiety, addictions, and eating disorders.
Serotonin is a monoamine- a synthesized form of single amino acid (tryptophan)
Our bodies DO NOT produce tryptophan. We have to get it from food.
Serotonin
“No other neurotransmitter is as strongly linked to your diet as serotonin.” (Somer, 1999)
What else does food do?
Provides other nutrients vital for proper neurotransmitter functioning: B vitamins Vitamin C Selenium Magnesium
Lack of some nutrients can cause irreversible damage to the nervous system: protein and zinc.
Sugar is good for energy, but too much can cause low mood and energy.
Diet is really important!! Diets should be balanced. Diets too high in protein or in simple
carbs can cause imbalances in blood sugar AND neurotransmitters that affect mood.
What happens with a poor diet?
Sugar enters the bloodstream increased blood sugar pancreas releasing insulin decreased blood sugar (usually sending in lower than where it started).
Foods high in sugar and caffeine also lower serotonin levels in the brain, which can slow people down.
Diet is really important!!
A poor diet creates a vicious cycle.
Negative Mood
Food Craving
Good Feelings
(temporary)
Crash
Diet and Depression
People with depression tend to prefer and crave fats and carbohydrates.
Research on Diet, Neurotransmitters and
Depression Larry Cristensen and Ross Burrows
(1990) “Dietary Treatment of Depression”
Research Question: Will a better diet stabilize neurotransmitters and in turn stabilize mood?
Christensen and Barrows (1990)
Participants 20 participants with depression related to
diet were chosen. Participants were given the Beck
Depression Inventory (BDI) and Chritensen Dietary Distress Inventory
Methods Randomly Assigned to Experimental or
Control Conditions Experimental Condition: Eliminated
sucrose and caffeine for 3 weeks. Control Condition: Eliminated red meat
and artificial sweetener. Saliva tests were give to show that
participants followed their diets over the three weeks.
Christensen and Barrows (1990)
Results Experimental Group showed fewer
depression symptoms. Benefits were maintained for three
months. Authors concluded that dietary changes
were successful for most but not all of the study participants.
Christensen and Barrows (1990)
Limitations & Next Steps Results not generalizable to all depressed
patients. NOT a random sample of all depressed
people. Not fully controlled. More research is needed.
Christensen and Barrows (1990)
In Conclusion… Theories explaining the relationship
between diet and depression are incomplete (Christensen, 2007)
Diet is one factor that increases the risk of depression.
It is important to remember that balance is important, and anything we do to disrupt our bodies balance will affect neurotransmission.