What is serotonin?
Serotonin (C10H12N2O) is a neurotransmitter that is synthesized from the essential amino acid L-tryptophan by a pathway in the brain that is made up of enzymes. Serotonin is responsible for the transportation of information between nerve cells. It is produced in the central nervous system, the gastrointestinal tract, and in blood platelets (1). Of the approximately forty million brain cells that each of us possess, nearly all of them are affected by serotonin. Scientists have concluded that low levels of serotonin can lead to depression, anxiety, impulsive behavior, aggression, loss of appetite, insomnia, affected social and behavioral performance, and a lower level of brain cell production. Anxiety is an effect of low serotonin, because in order for the body to metabolize stress hormones, serotonin is required (2).
Many psychiatrists and psychotherapists will recommend yoga as a tool with which to treat people who do not produce adequate amounts of serotonin. A study by the University of Florida that was conducted on people who were genetically prone to depression and low serotonin levels led to the conclusion that exercise has a significant impact on increasing the amount of serotonin produced by the brain, thereby improving mood, happiness, and lessening anxiety (3). This image (4) is a scan of two brains, showing one that is affected by depression and one that is not. The yellow and orange indicate the presence of serotonin. As shown in this image, there is a much larger amount of serotonin in the rightmost brain, while the brain on the left barely has any (4). Yoga, similar to other types of cardiovascular exercise, has been proven to greatly increase the amount of serotonin that the brain naturally produces, leading to decreased anxiety and stress (5).
Serotonin (C10H12N2O) is a neurotransmitter that is synthesized from the essential amino acid L-tryptophan by a pathway in the brain that is made up of enzymes. Serotonin is responsible for the transportation of information between nerve cells. It is produced in the central nervous system, the gastrointestinal tract, and in blood platelets (1). Of the approximately forty million brain cells that each of us possess, nearly all of them are affected by serotonin. Scientists have concluded that low levels of serotonin can lead to depression, anxiety, impulsive behavior, aggression, loss of appetite, insomnia, affected social and behavioral performance, and a lower level of brain cell production. Anxiety is an effect of low serotonin, because in order for the body to metabolize stress hormones, serotonin is required (2).
Many psychiatrists and psychotherapists will recommend yoga as a tool with which to treat people who do not produce adequate amounts of serotonin. A study by the University of Florida that was conducted on people who were genetically prone to depression and low serotonin levels led to the conclusion that exercise has a significant impact on increasing the amount of serotonin produced by the brain, thereby improving mood, happiness, and lessening anxiety (3). This image (4) is a scan of two brains, showing one that is affected by depression and one that is not. The yellow and orange indicate the presence of serotonin. As shown in this image, there is a much larger amount of serotonin in the rightmost brain, while the brain on the left barely has any (4). Yoga, similar to other types of cardiovascular exercise, has been proven to greatly increase the amount of serotonin that the brain naturally produces, leading to decreased anxiety and stress (5).
To the left is a molecular model of serotonin (4). The chemical formula is C10H12N2O. The carbons are gray, the hydrogens are yellow, the nitrogens are blue, and the oxygen is red. In order to ensure that each atom has eight electrons, some of the bonds between the carbons are double-bonded and share two pairs of electrons, while hydrogen only requires a total of two electrons to be stable in the molecule. Serotonin is classified as an indolamine, which is a class of neurotransmitters (2). Indolamines are derived from indoles, which are defined as "a crystalline, alkaloid compound (C8H7N) that is a decomposition product of proteins containing
tryptophan that can be made synthetically" by the Merriam Webster dictionary. Many substances in the brain contain tryptophan, which is an amino acid. Amino acids are the "molecular building blocks" of proteins, and proteins are essential to healthy brain function. Amino acids contain a carboxylic acid group (-COOH) that is bonded to a carbon atom in the center, and they also contain an "amino group" -- meaning that NH2 is present and bonded to additional atoms. When they occur naturally, both are ionic (15).
tryptophan that can be made synthetically" by the Merriam Webster dictionary. Many substances in the brain contain tryptophan, which is an amino acid. Amino acids are the "molecular building blocks" of proteins, and proteins are essential to healthy brain function. Amino acids contain a carboxylic acid group (-COOH) that is bonded to a carbon atom in the center, and they also contain an "amino group" -- meaning that NH2 is present and bonded to additional atoms. When they occur naturally, both are ionic (15).