Taking a quick ride behind the wheel to avoid an accident, worrying about that test tomorrow, feeling attracted to someone, going through a period of intense anxiety due to the pressure of work . . . These and other situations so common in life are mediated by a decisive and fundamental decision. Nervous system molecule: norepinephrine.
As we well know, every aspect of behavior and emotions is orchestrated by this fascinating chemical universe composed of hormones and neurotransmitters, every conscious or unconscious reaction is mediated by dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, acetylcholine, GABA, etc. , these chemicals created by the body. send signals between neurons to perform various functions.
- A high or low level of some of these chemicals means.
- As we can imagine.
- Undergo changes.
- You can change your mood.
- Feel more tired.
- Or experience high levels of stress.
- Norepinephrine is one of the most decisive molecules in the body.
- Find out why.
Norepinephrine or norepinephrine is a catecholamine with a large number of physiological and homeostatic functions, it also acts as a hormone and also as a neurotransmitter, structurally it is very similar to epinephrine, another type of catecholamine that, in addition to other essential substances such as dopamine and adrenaline, are the elements present in reactions associated with survival, such as action and flight.
It should also be noted that norepinephrine is one of the most important molecules in the transmission of messages between neurons and, above all, in processes located in the parasympathetic nervous system (which controls involuntary functions and acts).
This substance can be produced in two areas of the body, on the one hand, in the adrenal module, released into the bloodstream and thus orchestrate a series of very specific changes and processes, acting as a hormone. It will also be synthesized into locus coeruleus or cerulus, an area of the brain that connects to relevant areas such as the limbic system, thalamus and hypothalamus.
In addition, it is important to know that norepinephrine is one of the 12 main neurotransmitters, so its functions have a great impact on the body, both physically and emotionally.
There are many reasons why our hearts get excited: to be nervous, to see something that scares us and to put us on alert, because there is something that moves us, etc. ?
When our heart rate increases, it is norepinephrine that participates in this activation.
This molecule plays fundamentally a key role in survival processes, as it helps us to react, to flee, to defend ourselves from threats or to act on any stimulus of our environment, so one of its most important functions is to bring more blood to our body. muscle tissues to respond to all these situations.
Norepinephrine is the fuel that allows us to achieve our goals and motivates us to achieve them, this neurotransmitter, combined with dopamine, promotes essential functions such as learning, long- and short-term memory and that pleasant sense of well-being when we realize something we really love (sense of reward).
Daniel Goleman explained in his book? Focusing this attention is like a muscle that needs to be trained, through this we direct all our energy and resources towards a goal, and something like that is incredibly beneficial.
Not only will we be more productive, but we will also have a more attentive and alert mind, in this case the neurotransmitter involved in this process is norepinephrine.
We know that sexual desire, like attraction, is orchestrated by a whole torrent of neurotransmitters. Love, like passion and sexual attraction, is pure chemistry, and one component that is part of this formula is this versatile molecule.
There are several psychological states and emotional conditions in which norepinephrine has certain changes (higher or lower levels). In fact, to create psychotropic drugs, such as certain antidepressants, this neurotransmitter is taken into account.
For example, double serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors can be found that are very effective in treating various depressive disorders.
Let’s see what changes can occur when norepinephrine varies its presence in the body.
In conclusion, it is fascinating to see how these types of molecules articulate and mediatize infinite processes, both those that accompany us towards success and well-being and those that place us in slightly more complicated states.
In any case, it is up to us to regulate them, either with new coping strategies or through pharmacological resources.