Interrelationship between Neurotransmitter & Emotional Regulation
Much like neural networks, dialogue is a matter of roads, shared roads.
Dialogue is concerned with meaning, not truth. In a conversation between people, each person is able to understand the other because they have some shared experience, vocabulary, or context that allows them to interpret the other person’s words. This shared experience creates a “road” or pathway for communication to flow between people. Similarly, neural networks are made up of interconnected nodes that work together to process and interpret incoming stimuli. Each node in the network is connected to several other nodes, creating a complex web of shared connections. It is through these shared connections that the network is able to recognize patterns and make predictions based on incoming data.
So just as dialogue relies on shared roads or connections to facilitate understanding, neural networks rely on shared connections between nodes to process information. These shared roads are what allow both dialogue and neural networks to function effectively.
Let’s dive a little deeper: Think of the messages communicated both in dialogue and the crucial connections that trigger neuroplasticity.
In Dialogue
Inner-dialogue: In the context of inner dialogue, sharing meaning refers to the internalization of shared values and experiences that can guide an individual’s thoughts and behaviors. Dialogue with oneself can be a means of self-reflection and personal growth. By consciously engaging in one’s own thoughts, it becomes easier to identify, manage negative or unhelpful patterns of thinking, and as a result can influence the individual’s internal dialogue in moments of difficulty or self-doubt.
Dialogue between 2+ people: Good dialogue involves active listening, respect for differing perspectives, and a willingness to engage constructively with others. If two (or more) people are approaching a task and determine that they share the same end result (regardless of their difference in perspectives) they can use that common ground to guide their actions toward their desired mutual solution. Dialogue thrives off sharing meaning as it allows for more effective communication, mutual understanding, and collaboration.
In Neuroplasticity
Sharing connections between brain cells is crucial for neuroplasticity as it allows for sharing of information between cells. The more frequently two brain cells are activated together, such as through repeated experiences or learning, the stronger their connection becomes. Conversely, when two brain cells aren’t frequently activated together, their connection weakens or may even disappear altogether. This neuro-transmission of chemical messengers are vital to activate neuroplasticity because it allows for the formation and strengthening of neural pathways, which is essential for learning, memory, mood regulation, and motor control.
Proper regulation of neurotransmitters is essential for maintaining emotional well-being. Consider the concept “motion creates emotion” which suggests that physical movement can affect the activity of the nervous system and impact the regulation of neurotransmitters. Imbalances in neurotransmitter levels have been associated with mood disorders and other emotional disturbances. Therefore, by engaging in certain physical movements, it’s possible to stimulate the release of specific neurotransmitters that help regulate emotional states and improve well-being.
That concept can also be understood in its inverse form. Where motion creates emotion, so too does emotion contain a movement. I love the way Giuliana Bruno encapsulated Issey Miyake’s ready-to-wear collection Pleats Please where she spelled out, “Emotion itself moves, and the language of emotion relies on the terminology of motion.” She states how mood materializes as a result of movement, “…and thus unfolding is a material expression of our moving inner world.” Emotions are energy, dynamic states of mind.
“Emotion itself moves, and the language of emotion relies on the terminology of motion…and thus unfolding is a material expression of our moving inner world.”
In essence, the concept of emotion containing movement alludes to the idea that they aren’t just abstract mental constructs, but also involve embodied experiences that are closely intertwined with physical sensations and movements. By engaging in movement practices, individuals can learn to express, explore, identify, and process leading to greater emotional intelligence and self-regulation skills.
We’ve created infographics to expand on 6 common neurotransmitters. We know that the brain is capable of rewiring itself in response to incoming stimuli — what we consume, how we think and what we practice. Below, you’ll learn about WHAT neurotransmitters we’ve covered and what action messages they relay to our nervous system, HOW each neurotransmitter influences the dialogue happening in the brain, and WHY it’s important to maintain a balanced profile, as well as the dysfunctions that can occur as a result of imbalance.
The dance of neurochemicals in our brain is truly what makes us human. The interplay between the action messages transmitted and our nervous system is what allows us to experiences the richness of human emotions and to form deep interpersonal connections. Taking inventory of our stimulation levels can be a starter tool to recognize these connections.
As human, we’re each wired differently. What may work for one person, may not work for another. However, using a framework to target our goals is a starting point. From the infographics above, we know that neurotransmitters are chemical messengers passed on through our nervous system that give us signals — think pleasure, reward, alertness, calmness to name a few — that influence our brain-body states.
Let’s take a closer look: Consider the interrelationship between neurotransmitter & emotional regulation in regards to how it can trigger neuroplasticity.
The brain is designed to feedback to us the colors of our thoughts + programs and our opinions + beliefs that are the strongest. Our brain is looking at the color of our thoughts, recording and (re)programming them in, then sending colors back as a blueprint of ourselves. Our perceptions wire our brain and in turn our brain wires our perceptions. We talk to our brain and it responds to what we tell it. This is the endless feedback loop in action.
Messages in dialogue can impact neurotransmitter activity and emotional regulation. Positive interactions and support can increase the release of dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin, which are associated with bonding, trust and social connection. This can improve emotional regulation and promote positive emotions necessary for neuroplasticity and growth.
Imbalances in neurotransmitter levels that result from a lack of exercise, malnutrition, poor stress management impact the ability for neural networks to strengthen. Emotional regulation can facilitate the formation of new connections by promoting a receptive state in the brain that is more open to learning.
Everything we think we know about of the world is a model — especially complex and sophisticated are the mental models we create from direct intimate experience. Mental models are guides, tools of exploration, perceptions of how we think about the world (and ourselves). Though we may tend to see straight lines, reality is made of circles, cycles and systems. Routines are cycles of repeated actions. A day is a cycle of 24 hours. Rewiring the brain is a cycle of creating new connections and strengthening the pathways through intention and repetition.
Motion is essential to ongoing cycles. We are in constant flow in accordance to the life we choose to live. Sometimes when our systems are no longer supporting our state of goals, this propels us to break from cycles to form new ones, and the cyclical nature repeats itself through receiving, filtering and updating.
The key point here is that we can access the navigation control center at any time. How? By using introspection as a tool to better understand its mechanics:
- create a container to observe yourself
- look at thoughts from a bird’s eye view
- reflect on actions and results
- take inventory of patterns
- notice triggers
Observe your inner dialogue. Every external experience stems from this internal one.
As an ongoing practice of learning and sharing to nourish neuroplasticity, I am very much open into engaging with other trains of thought or mental structures. Cheers!
