Pleasure-Inducing Chemicals in the Brain Increase During Exercise
Have you ever felt happier and more energized after a workout? You are not alone. Some individuals claim that fitness training can produce euphoric feelings, and it's not the exercise alone that people are responding to. During exercise the body experiences a release of chemicals in the brain that enhance happiness and delight while suppressing pain and discomfort. Researchers at Bryn Mawr College have concluded that these chemicals can be released as soon as 30 minutes within beginning focused physical activity and can have a major impact in both the enjoyment of fitness trainingand your disposition throughout the day. In fact, exercise has been touted as an effective way to prevent or lessen depression by the Better Health Channel. The key to enhancing joy and combating depression is in your brain's chemicals.
Endorphins
According to Bryan Mawr College, within 30 minutes of beginning physical activity endorphins start to be released from the brain. The endorphins function to bind to opioid receptors in your brain's neurons. This process hinders the discharge of a number of neurotransmitters, which reduces your central nervous system's ability to communicate the sensation of pain from your body to the brain. This development aids in the decline of feelings of discomfort and pain when completing fitness training. However, endorphins don't achieve all of this alone, without any assistance. The endorphins work in concert with serotonin and dopamine, the pleasure-inducing neurotransmitters of the brain.
According to Bryan Mawr College, within 30 minutes of beginning physical activity endorphins start to be released from the brain. The endorphins function to bind to opioid receptors in your brain's neurons. This process hinders the discharge of a number of neurotransmitters, which reduces your central nervous system's ability to communicate the sensation of pain from your body to the brain. This development aids in the decline of feelings of discomfort and pain when completing fitness training. However, endorphins don't achieve all of this alone, without any assistance. The endorphins work in concert with serotonin and dopamine, the pleasure-inducing neurotransmitters of the brain.
Serotonin
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that influences sensations of pleasure and affects a variety of standard bodily functions, including your sleeping and awake cycles, mood, libido, and appetite. Serotonin has also been directly linked to feelings of depression and sadness – heightened levels of serotonin promote feelings of joy, resulting in less frequent or severe depression. The Better Health Channel claims that the brain tends to increase serotonin production when you exercise, allowing people to feel more upbeat. Furthermore, individuals who engage in frequent physical activity are prone to have more serotonin present in their brains generally and, thus, tend to be happier than those that refrain from frequent exercise.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that influences sensations of pleasure and affects a variety of standard bodily functions, including your sleeping and awake cycles, mood, libido, and appetite. Serotonin has also been directly linked to feelings of depression and sadness – heightened levels of serotonin promote feelings of joy, resulting in less frequent or severe depression. The Better Health Channel claims that the brain tends to increase serotonin production when you exercise, allowing people to feel more upbeat. Furthermore, individuals who engage in frequent physical activity are prone to have more serotonin present in their brains generally and, thus, tend to be happier than those that refrain from frequent exercise.
Dopamine
As stated by the Franklin Institute, the chemical dopamine aids in regulating fine-motor function. Dopamine also helps your brain discover the effects of various stimulus according to PsychologyToday.com. Thus, dopamine is a factor in developing and strengthening coordination and muscle memory. As your serotonin level increasing during your fitness training, dopamine facilitates the brain associating physical activity with the elevated sense of delight that accompanied the exercise. Your brain will recall the pleasant feelings associated with fitness training and be more likely to encourage the body to continue activities that replicate the sensation.
As stated by the Franklin Institute, the chemical dopamine aids in regulating fine-motor function. Dopamine also helps your brain discover the effects of various stimulus according to PsychologyToday.com. Thus, dopamine is a factor in developing and strengthening coordination and muscle memory. As your serotonin level increasing during your fitness training, dopamine facilitates the brain associating physical activity with the elevated sense of delight that accompanied the exercise. Your brain will recall the pleasant feelings associated with fitness training and be more likely to encourage the body to continue activities that replicate the sensation.
