Written by Elif Gulce Batgi
People’s personalities, characteristics, and behaviors have been shaped by complicated interactions of biological, psychological, and social variables. The things that will be more emphasized in the upcoming passages are biological variables, especially the brain, which is one of the two components of the central nervous system, and the rest of the nervous system. The brain and the nervous system affect our behaviors and personalities with both their physical and chemical traits. Even though our personalities may be formed by the functions of our brains, some parts and even the shape of the brain can give us clues about how the brain influences our behaviors. Moreover, different parts are in control of various emotions and behaviors [Seladi-Schulman, (n.d.)]. Our emotions are made up of the limbic system, which is responsible for emotional and behavioral responses [SeladiSchulman, (n.d.)].
Furthermore, the limbic system is divided into four parts: the hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, and limbic cortex. The hypothalamus is the section of our brain that controls emotional responses such as happiness, excitement, and so forth. [Seladi-Schulman, (n.d.)]. Also, the hypothalamus is associated with sexual responses, the release of hormones, and regulating body temperature [Seladi-Schulman, n.d.]. Mentioning one of the most crucial parts of the midbrain, the hippocampus is responsible for storing, forming, and organizing new memories, as well as learning [How important, 2021]. The part responsible for organizing emotions such as aggression and fear, carving emotional meanings into our memories, and turning them into long-term memories by encoding them is the amygdala, which is another part of the limbic system [Guy-Evans, 2021]. Lastly, the limbic cortex involves the cingulate gyrus and the parahippocampal gyrus. Altogether, they affect our moods, motivations, and judgment [Seladi-Schulman, (n.d.)].
Besides the effects of the physical quality of the brain on behaviors, some neurotransmitters have an important role in affecting an individual's mood. These are serotonin, dopamine, GABA, norepinephrine, glutamate, and endorphins. To begin with, serotonin is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood, sexuality, anxiety, pain, appetite, and sleep cycles [Neurotransmitters, 2021]. Additionally, dopamine has a role in the body's reward system; it involves feeling pleasure, achieving heightened stimulation, and learning [Neurotransmitters, 2021]. GABA regulates brain activity for preventing problems in the areas of anxiety, irritability, concentration, sleep, seizures, and depression [Neurotransmitters, 2021]. Norepinephrine, with another definition of noradrenaline, helps the body increase blood pressure and heart rate [Neurotransmitters, 2021]. Glutamate plays an important role in thinking, learning, and memory, or, in other words, cognitive functions [Neurotransmitters, 2021]. Endorphin is responsible for the "flight-or-fight response," which is an automatic response when encountered in the moments when the individual is experiencing stressful events. [Neurotransmitters, 2021], [Fight or, 2022]
As much as biological factors play key roles in our behaviors, there are other variables such as physical factors (age, health, illness, pain, influence of a substance or medication) personal and emotional differences (personality, beliefs, expectations, emotions, mental health) and life experiences (family, culture, friends, place you live in).
Behaviors are complex reflections of different variables that a person could ever have in their life. They can change, reshape or even disappear in specific periods of a person’s life. Different variables include individual variables and biological factors.
References:
Seladi-Schulman, J. (n.d.). What part of the brain controls emotions? Fear, happiness, anger, love. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/what-part-of-the-brain-controlsemotions#the.
Neurotransmitters: What they are, functions & types. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22513-neurotransmitters.
How important is the hippocampus in the brain? (2011, July 25). Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-hippocampus-2795231.
Guy-Evans, O. (2021, May 9). Amygdala function and location. Study Guides for Psychology Students - Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/amygdala.html.
Fight or flight response. (2022, October 12). Psychology Tools. https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/fight-or-flight-response/.
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