Credulity is in the hormone of happiness
Pyotr Smirnov, "Newspaper.Ru»The ever-growing volume of the brain radically distinguishes us from the great apes.
But the further scientists delve into the study of human behavior, the more they notice the determining role of emotions and hormones in them, rather than logic and reason.
Even the simple introduction of neurotransmitters circulating in the nervous system, or their chemical precursors, can affect mood, sleep, hunger and other physiological processes. Sex hormones are even more powerful in this regard, which, as it was recently shown, are even associated with behavior on the stock exchange.
This time, the list of "strong bodies of this world" has been replenished with serotonin, the level of which is able to correct not only the mood, but, as scientists have found out, and affect trust in others.
Serotonin, the "hormone of happiness" found in almost all tissues of the body, is known both as a hormone and as a neurotransmitter. It is involved in inflammation, blood clotting, pain sensitivity, in the regulation of the circadian rhythm and, importantly, in the digestion of food. Mucosal cells secrete it into the blood, and their "neighbors" in response to an increase in its concentration increase the release of enzymes into the intestinal lumen.
Acting as a neurotransmitter, 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) transmits impulses from one nerve cell to another. Moreover, this happens in strictly defined areas of the central nervous system – in particular, in the dorsolateral and ventral prefrontal cortex.
Encouraged by the success of colleagues who studied oxytocin and cortisol, Molly Crockett and her co-authors from the universities of Cambridge and California established the effect of serotonin concentration on trust.
20 volunteers were offered to play an "absolute game" – to accept or reject an offer to "bet" a certain amount of money with different chances of winning: 45%, 30% and 20%.The scientific nature of the study was that half of the participants in the game were given a drug that temporarily reduces the concentration of tryptophan in the nervous system, and therefore serotonin, the precursor substance of which tryptophan is. The other half took a placebo dummy. The introductory instruction of the volunteers, according to the rules of the double-blind placebo-controlled study, did not differ.
In the group with reduced serotonin levels, the frequency of cautious failures was significantly higher – from 30% it increased to 80%. Moreover, it did not depend on the size of the bid (1 or 6 pounds), but it correlated well with the honesty of the offer – the most dangerous offers were rejected more often; this, by the way, is similar to the effect of cortisol.
Crockett confirms his own findings with the results of the work of Daria Knoch, who achieved a similar effect two years ago. Knoch and her colleagues suppressed the activity of the above-mentioned areas of the prefrontal cortex using targeted magnetic low-frequency stimulation.
Crockett believes that this proves the role of serotonin in assessing the honesty of at least economic proposals.
Although if we interpret the results quite pedantically, it is better to say not "serotonin increases trust", but "the lack of the "hormone of happiness" is associated with distrust."
The result obtained by scientists partially explains the kindness that spreads through the body after a hearty dinner. Although serotonin formed in the intestinal wall does not enter the synapses of the brain to act as a neurotransmitter, its amount may increase in response to the entry into the blood of the amino acid tryptophan, which is rich in peanuts and dried fruits. This should be taken into account by the owners of casinos and gaming clubs: small expenses for free nuts can more than pay off with the "deposits" of players.
Well, Crockett, who is not directly connected with the gambling business, prefers to give other advice: she hopes that her and her colleagues' research, published in Science, will help to cope with obsessive neurosis and depression, which are still difficult to treat.
Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru
06.06.2008