Ever felt ready to fight for the last biscuit? “Hanger” – feeling angry due to hunger – is incredibly common, and ghrelin, the so-called “hunger hormone”, is implicated. Released when the stomach is empty, it triggers a rise in levels of neuropeptide Y (NPY), a neurotransmitter involved in making us want to eat – and in regulating anger and aggression. People with intermittent explosive disorder, characterised by impulsive aggression, have above-average levels of NPY.
What’s more, the more NPY in circulation, the greater the fall in the level of another neurotransmitter, serotonin. Low serotonin has been linked with reduced communication between the amygdala – the brain’s threat detector – and the prefrontal cortex, which regulates emotional responses. In such a situation, it might be harder to rein in emotions when we are stressed.
No comments:
Post a Comment