Serotonin slows aggression

Serotonin is not just a 'good' hormone, it has apparently also inhibit
aggression. Artificial serotonin deficiency led to emotional loss of
control in subjects such as brain researchers report.

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have as part of a study
participant put on serotonin-deficient diet and compared them via
brain scan with a control group. The subjects were instructed to
classify angry, fearful or neutral portraits as male or female, in
fact, the researchers examined, however, something else: namely, the
reaction to the angry expression on their faces.
the study

"Effects of Acute Tryptophan Depletion on prefrontal-amygdala
connectivity While viewing facial signals of aggression," Biological
Psychiatry (doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.07.033).

As a team led by Luca Passamonti in the journal "Biological
Psychiatry", writes in the diet group, the communication between the
amygdala and the prefrontal cortex was reduced. The former is involved
in the production of emotions, the latter in its control. The effect
was most pronounced among those who had, according to previous
interviews with violent tendencies. Luca Passamontis conclusion: "It
was as if the voice of reason silenced."

S such as serotonin

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain can cause a good mood.
With the handle to the chocolate we make sure that the levels of
serotonin in the brain and thus increases our mood.

The mechanism, which is based is simple: we eat lots of chocolate
production, our pancreas to break down the carbohydrates. In addition,
many amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, transported to the
muscles.

An exception is the amino acid tryptophan. Since it is not removed,
its concentration in the blood increases. This allows more tryptophan
to the brain, where it is converted into serotonin. This messenger,
which is often referred to as the "happiness hormone" controls, where
among other things, sleep patterns, moods, sex drive and the
temperature of our body.
Chocolate makes happy then?
According to recent studies, serotonin reduces stress, relaxes and
makes you tired. After a carbohydrate meal, we are less efficient than
after a protein-rich food with plenty of fish and vegetables.
The doctor measures a too low serotonin levels in the body usually
over in migraine and increased sensitivity to pain. Conversely,
researchers assume that a higher concentration of serotonin may
alleviate these symptoms.
Women need chocolate more than men. The reason: After ovulation, the
serotonin levels in the body decreases slowly, from just before
menstruation even higher. This results in varying moods, depression
and irritability, which can be buffered by the chocolate, at least in
part.
Since serotonin levels drop even at low solar radiation, it is obvious
that fast in the winter months, the consumption of chocolate and
gingerbread cookies-rises. In southern countries, which are spoiled by
the sun, much less chocolate is eaten than in northern regions.

Serotonin can make a plague of locusts

Dangerous Transformation: A messenger from making harmless, solitary
desert locusts gregarious animals. British researchers have found that
serotonin is responsible for the huge swarms of insects which
devastate entire regions.

As the sky darkened and filled the buzzing of millions of small
animals, the air, then the time of suffering, tirelessly advancing
inexorably locusts do all the finish off, what is green. Again and
again, looking locusts swarms of northern Africa, home of the Arabian
Peninsula and Asia Minor. Overall, a fifth of the landmass of the
earth is more or less affected. Solve the swarms of devastation and
famine, because they can consume as much per day of vegetable matter,
as they weigh themselves.

Now, researchers have been able to understand what motivates the
animals to the human fatal combination. Because actually desert
locusts are solitary. They live in a fixed location and avoid their
own species. But the food is scarce, so changes the behavior of
insects, they join together in huge flocks. The appearance varies
within a few hours.

A British research team led by Stephen Rogers and Michael Anstey now
reported in the journal "Science", the trigger changes are stimuli
emanating from conspecifics. In rare encounters the locusts react more
aggressively, but it changes frequently contact swarm beings. Key to
this is the set of fellows who see the animals and smell. Play a major
role and tactile stimuli: Frequent contact of the hind legs, when the
crowded animals crawl over each other.

The key to the transformation from loner to swarming locust is the
nervous system neurotransmitter serotonin. When the researchers the
hind legs of animals artificially excited and walked to the locust
locusts, they found that the increased concentration of serotonin in
parts of the nervous system by a factor three. They gave the animals
before a drug that blocked the production or the action of serotonin,
the animals remained loners.

However, the researchers injected locusts serotonin or chemically
related substances directly, they were transformed in a short time in
order and showed typical locusts swarm behavior. And even if the
animals did not receive the usual stimuli from other locusts. "No one
had ever understood the processes in the brain that act at the
grasshoppers in this transformation from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde, from
harmless, antisocial loner to monstrous swarm," said Michael Anstey.
"It had been puzzling researchers for 90 years."

Even the re-conversion to harmless loner is possible, but takes
longer. The researchers suggest that serotonin activates genes that
reinforce the swarm animal state. Based on their findings might one
day be developed chemical agents that prevent the formation of the
locusts and devastating plague be. Serotonin is also an important
neurotransmitter in humans, for example, is involved in the regulation
of sleep-wake cycle.

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