The roots of happiness: How love and memory shape the core of our brain.

4区医学 Q3 Neuroscience

Progress in brain research Pub Date : 2025-01-01 Epub Date: 2025-04-02 DOI:10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.03.002

Mohamad Alfateh Abou Haykal

{"title":"The roots of happiness: How love and memory shape the core of our brain.","authors":"Mohamad Alfateh Abou Haykal","doi":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.03.002","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This chapter explores the profound impact of love and joyful memories on the brainstem, emphasizing their significance for mental and emotional well-being. It introduces the brainstem's role in essential life functions and its connection to higher emotional processes. Topics delve into the neurobiology of love, detailing how chemicals like oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin interact with brainstem activity, influencing physical health and emotional resilience. The chapter also examines the role of positive memories, explaining how recalling them activates relaxation responses, reduces stress, and enhances well-being. Practical strategies for cultivating love and creating positive memories are discussed, including mindfulness and intentional relationship-building. The chapter also explores emerging research on love and memory as therapeutic tools for conditions such as PTSD and anxiety. In conclusion, the chapter highlights the interconnectedness of love, memory, and the brainstem, proposing that nurturing these connections can lead to increased joy and emotional fulfillment, making it a valuable resource for both neuroscience and personal development.</p>","PeriodicalId":20598,"journal":{"name":"Progress in brain research","volume":"293 ","pages":"41-55"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Progress in brain research","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.03.002","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/4/2 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"Neuroscience","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

This chapter explores the profound impact of love and joyful memories on the brainstem, emphasizing their significance for mental and emotional well-being. It introduces the brainstem's role in essential life functions and its connection to higher emotional processes. Topics delve into the neurobiology of love, detailing how chemicals like oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin interact with brainstem activity, influencing physical health and emotional resilience. The chapter also examines the role of positive memories, explaining how recalling them activates relaxation responses, reduces stress, and enhances well-being. Practical strategies for cultivating love and creating positive memories are discussed, including mindfulness and intentional relationship-building. The chapter also explores emerging research on love and memory as therapeutic tools for conditions such as PTSD and anxiety. In conclusion, the chapter highlights the interconnectedness of love, memory, and the brainstem, proposing that nurturing these connections can lead to increased joy and emotional fulfillment, making it a valuable resource for both neuroscience and personal development.

查看原文本刊更多论文

幸福的根源：爱和记忆如何塑造我们大脑的核心。

本章探讨了爱情和快乐记忆对脑干的深刻影响，强调了它们对精神和情感健康的重要性。它介绍了脑干在基本生命功能中的作用，以及它与高级情绪过程的联系。主题深入到爱情的神经生物学，详细介绍了催产素、多巴胺和血清素等化学物质如何与脑干活动相互作用，影响身体健康和情绪弹性。本章还探讨了积极记忆的作用，解释了回忆它们如何激活放松反应，减轻压力，提高幸福感。讨论了培养爱和创造积极记忆的实用策略，包括正念和有意识的关系建立。本章还探讨了爱和记忆作为创伤后应激障碍和焦虑等疾病的治疗工具的新兴研究。最后，本章强调了爱情、记忆和脑干之间的相互联系，提出培养这些联系可以增加快乐和情感满足，使其成为神经科学和个人发展的宝贵资源。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Progress in brain research 医学-神经科学

CiteScore

5.20

自引率

0.00%

发文量

174

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Progress in Brain Research is the most acclaimed and accomplished series in neuroscience. The serial is well-established as an extensive documentation of contemporary advances in the field. The volumes contain authoritative reviews and original articles by invited specialists. The rigorous editing of the volumes assures that they will appeal to all laboratory and clinical brain research workers in the various disciplines: neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, neuroendocrinology, neuropathology, basic neurology, biological psychiatry and the behavioral sciences.