{"id":12599,"date":"2023-11-01T22:42:41","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T02:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=12599"},"modified":"2023-10-23T22:52:28","modified_gmt":"2023-10-24T02:52:28","slug":"the-1-way-to-spritz-yourself-with-happy-brain-chemicals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=12599","title":{"rendered":"The #1 Way To Spritz Yourself With Happy Brain Chemicals"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"In my former life as a neuroscientist, I would stimulate specific areas of the brain to map the behaviors stored within its neuronal networks.<\/p>\n

Others have more extensively explored regions that control all aspects of behavior: movement, speech (speaking it, and understanding it), feelings, memories, even religious spirituality (link: for a little light reading, lol<\/a>).<\/p>\n

So yes the brain controls behavior like laughter, but it is also changed by it. Here’s just a subset of what we know:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. We know that humor and laughter lead to fewer negative feelings overall, and more positive feelings about ourselves.<\/li>\n
  2. We also know that these positive emotions are linked to the “neuro-chemicals of happiness”: dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, endorphins, and others (link: happy chemicals not included<\/a>).<\/li>\n
  3. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that laughter and humor can actually start this entire happiness ball rolling, bc it produces many of these very same happiness chemicals.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    But if you need a bottom line road map, here it is:<\/p>\n

    Laughter –> Happy Brain Chemicals –> Happy Feelings<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Bottom Line:<\/h3>\n

    When you find humor in the world, you are self-spritzing these chemicals into your brain.<\/p>\n

    Once they’re floating about in your wrinkled gray matter, those same chemicals help you to feel more relaxed, less anxious, less stressful, and they boost your positive feeling about yourself.<\/p>\n

    Positive neuro-chemicals up, negative neurochemicals go down.<\/p>\n

    Total win-win.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Get someone to spritz themselves in happy brain chemicals by making them laugh. Then SHARE this info w them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    In my former life as a neuroscientist, I would stimulate specific areas of the brain to map the behaviors stored within its neuronal networks. Others have more extensively explored regions … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":12600,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[494],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12599","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/positive_happy_neurochemicals_of_the_brain.png?fit=1092%2C612&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7Qv5g-3hd","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2043,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=2043","url_meta":{"origin":12599,"position":0},"title":"Ladies: Exercise Can Reverse Bad Behavior … Even Lying","author":"Will Clower","date":"July 24, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Everyone knows that regular physical activity -- even walking -- is good for your brain, and can turn back the clock on your abilities.\u00a0A study this week included 2,809 women over the age of 65. They also had a history of heart disease or stroke, or at least three risk\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-p5vNvJ3zU-c\/TirruQtppSI\/AAAAAAAADPw\/BlHFM6nvk30\/s320\/BrainPower.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12613,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=12613","url_meta":{"origin":12599,"position":1},"title":"Mental Wellbeing Gift That Keeps On Giving","author":"Will Clower","date":"October 8, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Pet the cat. Or even think about petting the cat. When you do here's what happens inside your brain. Neurobiological processes contribute to positive emotions and bonding, creating a sense of well-being and attachment. But here's the key point:\u00a0It's not about the cat. It's about caring for something else beside\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/My-project-1-33.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/My-project-1-33.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/My-project-1-33.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/My-project-1-33.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/My-project-1-33.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7764,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=7764","url_meta":{"origin":12599,"position":2},"title":"Train Your Brain In August: With exercise","author":"Will Clower","date":"July 29, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"All month we will explore the brain. Specifically, we'll walk you through the methods for training your brain to be stronger, smarter, and faster! In my former life as a neuroscientist, I recorded brain cells to understand how the nervous system controlls behavior. I have this memory of speaking with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"CG Brain Lifting Weights","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/CG-Brain-Lifting-Weights.jpg?fit=1183%2C887&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/CG-Brain-Lifting-Weights.jpg?fit=1183%2C887&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/CG-Brain-Lifting-Weights.jpg?fit=1183%2C887&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/CG-Brain-Lifting-Weights.jpg?fit=1183%2C887&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/CG-Brain-Lifting-Weights.jpg?fit=1183%2C887&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5841,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=5841","url_meta":{"origin":12599,"position":3},"title":"Building a Better Brain. Don’t Be A Slug.","author":"Will Clower","date":"March 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In my former life as a neuroscientist (over 25 years ago), I did physiology research on certain aspects of the brain and behavior. At some point after a long week of working with monkeys, a few of us went out for a beer at the local place. And I guess\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Activity"","block_context":{"text":"Activity","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=528"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/iStock-1068364620.jpg?fit=724%2C483&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/iStock-1068364620.jpg?fit=724%2C483&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/iStock-1068364620.jpg?fit=724%2C483&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/iStock-1068364620.jpg?fit=724%2C483&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15694,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=15694","url_meta":{"origin":12599,"position":4},"title":"The Science of Slow Eating","author":"Will Clower","date":"March 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Many people try to improve nutrition by focusing only on what they eat. But how we eat can be just as important. Eating slowly gives the body time to activate the complex biological signals that regulate hunger and satiation. When food enters the stomach, receptors are triggered to send messages\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"Stressed Couple in Kitchen Late for Work","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Man-Woman-Eating-in-Hurry.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Man-Woman-Eating-in-Hurry.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Man-Woman-Eating-in-Hurry.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Man-Woman-Eating-in-Hurry.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Man-Woman-Eating-in-Hurry.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12654,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=12654","url_meta":{"origin":12599,"position":5},"title":"The #1 Way to Train Your Brain For Better Sleep","author":"Will Clower","date":"November 30, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"I have this issue myself, and more as I've gotten older ... racing thoughts about work deadlines, overdue blah blah blah, a family member\u2019s recent health issue, etc. And OMG if I forget literally anything, my brain instantly thinks \"so if you forgot that, what else did you forget, HMMM???\".\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Brain Health"","block_context":{"text":"Brain Health","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=597"},"img":{"alt_text":"young man sleeping zzz","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/young-man-sleeping-zzz.jpg?fit=676%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/young-man-sleeping-zzz.jpg?fit=676%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/young-man-sleeping-zzz.jpg?fit=676%2C400&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12599","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12599"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12599\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12601,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12599\/revisions\/12601"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12599"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}