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Anger Part 2

Elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol can negatively impact the brain in several ways: 1. Cortisol can cause neurons to take in too much calcium, which can lead to cell death. 2. High cortisol can reduce neurons in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, areas important for decision making and memory. 3. Suppressed prefrontal cortex activity prevents good judgment and future planning when upset. 4. Excess cortisol in the hippocampus can kill neurons and weaken short term memory and new memory formation. 5. Cortisol can decrease the happy hormone serotonin, making anger and pain felt more easily and encouraging aggressive behavior.

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Laura Andrei
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142 views2 pages

Anger Part 2

Elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol can negatively impact the brain in several ways: 1. Cortisol can cause neurons to take in too much calcium, which can lead to cell death. 2. High cortisol can reduce neurons in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, areas important for decision making and memory. 3. Suppressed prefrontal cortex activity prevents good judgment and future planning when upset. 4. Excess cortisol in the hippocampus can kill neurons and weaken short term memory and new memory formation. 5. Cortisol can decrease the happy hormone serotonin, making anger and pain felt more easily and encouraging aggressive behavior.

Uploaded by

Laura Andrei
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HOW ANGER AFFECTS YOUR

BRAIN AND BODY: PART 12

HOW STRESS HORMONES CAN CHANGE YOUR BRAIN


Where do these stress hormones come from?
To find out, check out Part 1 of this infographic series.

1 Elevated cortisol can cause your neurons to take in too much calcium
through their membranes.

NEURON

The problem with this is


it can make cells fire
CORTISOL CALCIUM IONS too frequently and die.

2 Too much cortisol can cause a loss of neurons in your


prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus.

PREFRONTAL
CORTEX

HIPPOCAMPUS

www.nicabm.com
© 2018 The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine
HOW ANGER AFFECTS YOUR
BRAIN AND BODY: PART 12

3 Suppressed activity in your 4 Too much cortisol in your


prefrontal cortex (PFC) can prevent hippocampus can kill neurons and
you from using your best judgment. keep your brain from making
new ones. This can weaken your
? short-term memory and prevent
you from forming new memories
properly.

This is why you might not


make good decisions or This is why you might not
plan well for the future remember what you want
when you’re upset. to say in an argument.

5 Too much cortisol can decrease serotonin – that’s the hormone


that makes you happy.

A decrease in serotonin can make you


feel anger and physical pain more easily.
This also might be why you act in more
aggressive ways or feel depressed.

CORTISOL SEROTONIN

As you can see, these hormones can have a big impact on your brain.
But that’s not all they might do.
Coming soon: How Anger Affects Your Brain and Body, Part 3 –
exploring what the stress hormones can do to your immune
system, cardiovascular system, and more.

www.nicabm.com
© 2018 The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine

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