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What is GABA?
Gamma amino-butyric acid (C4H9NO2) is a brain chemical that reacts in the thalamus (11). It is produced in brain cells from glutamate, and is a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system that prevents nerve transmission to the brain, calming nervous activity. It is classified as an inhibitory neurotransmitter -- it prevents nerve cells from "firing" (11). Because it obstructs the nerve impulses of the brain, a high presence of GABA leads to feelings of calm and happiness. Low levels of GABA in the brain can cause panic attacks, epilepsy, Parkinson's syndrome, bipolar disorder, addiction, headaches, depression, anxiety, and other types of cognitive impairment (11). GABA is found in anti-anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines, which suppress neurological activity (9). GABA also binds to the same chemical receptors as cannabinoids and alcohol does, giving the body a natural sense of relaxation and calm (9). In this image, the white represents the hydrogen, the black represents carbon, the blue represents nitrogen, and the red represents oxygen. There is a double bond between the oxygen and the carbon so that the electron requirement of both carbon and oxygen is met (14).
The rightmost portion of the molecule is a carboxylic acid, which is a compound that contains a group comprised of -COOH (15). In most cases, the carbon atom of the carboxyl group is usually bonded to an additional carbon atom. Carboxylic acids are easily found in nature -- in fact, the reason that bee stings and ant bites cause irritation and mild pain is because they inject formic acid, or HCOOH, a type of carboxylic acid, into the skin (15). The leftmost portion of the GABA molecule is classified as an amine (15). Amines are derived from NH3, or ammonia. In these types of compounds, carbon groups replace up to three hydrogen atoms (15).
A study conducted by the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2013 noted the differences in GABA levels when participants completed sixty minutes of yoga as opposed to sixty minutes of a cardiovascularly equivalent aerobic exercise. They found that the presence of GABA increased by twenty-seven percent more than while completing an hour of the alternate physical activity. The trial was run for twelve weeks, and each participant rated factors related to their mood and anxiety levels at the end of the session. The yoga group scored much higher on happiness scales and lower on anxiety scales than the other group did, which demonstrates the effect that an increase in GABA production has on mood (12).
It has been concluded that high GABA release on a regular basis can raise the baseline levels of what a body perceives as normal. This means that the brain essentially becomes "rewired" to have a norm of a calmer response to stress and other mental and emotional challenges (8).
Gamma amino-butyric acid (C4H9NO2) is a brain chemical that reacts in the thalamus (11). It is produced in brain cells from glutamate, and is a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system that prevents nerve transmission to the brain, calming nervous activity. It is classified as an inhibitory neurotransmitter -- it prevents nerve cells from "firing" (11). Because it obstructs the nerve impulses of the brain, a high presence of GABA leads to feelings of calm and happiness. Low levels of GABA in the brain can cause panic attacks, epilepsy, Parkinson's syndrome, bipolar disorder, addiction, headaches, depression, anxiety, and other types of cognitive impairment (11). GABA is found in anti-anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines, which suppress neurological activity (9). GABA also binds to the same chemical receptors as cannabinoids and alcohol does, giving the body a natural sense of relaxation and calm (9). In this image, the white represents the hydrogen, the black represents carbon, the blue represents nitrogen, and the red represents oxygen. There is a double bond between the oxygen and the carbon so that the electron requirement of both carbon and oxygen is met (14).
The rightmost portion of the molecule is a carboxylic acid, which is a compound that contains a group comprised of -COOH (15). In most cases, the carbon atom of the carboxyl group is usually bonded to an additional carbon atom. Carboxylic acids are easily found in nature -- in fact, the reason that bee stings and ant bites cause irritation and mild pain is because they inject formic acid, or HCOOH, a type of carboxylic acid, into the skin (15). The leftmost portion of the GABA molecule is classified as an amine (15). Amines are derived from NH3, or ammonia. In these types of compounds, carbon groups replace up to three hydrogen atoms (15).
A study conducted by the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2013 noted the differences in GABA levels when participants completed sixty minutes of yoga as opposed to sixty minutes of a cardiovascularly equivalent aerobic exercise. They found that the presence of GABA increased by twenty-seven percent more than while completing an hour of the alternate physical activity. The trial was run for twelve weeks, and each participant rated factors related to their mood and anxiety levels at the end of the session. The yoga group scored much higher on happiness scales and lower on anxiety scales than the other group did, which demonstrates the effect that an increase in GABA production has on mood (12).
It has been concluded that high GABA release on a regular basis can raise the baseline levels of what a body perceives as normal. This means that the brain essentially becomes "rewired" to have a norm of a calmer response to stress and other mental and emotional challenges (8).