Know 6 effects of serotonin in your body

Serotonin plays a fundamental role in our behavior because it has biological bases that decisively influence us; it's because the human brain is such an intricate organ that there are thousands of chemicals interacting inside so that we can experience things and perceive reality as we do do.

Some of these substances can not be found in certain cell types and have very specific functions (so many of them still have to be discovered), but others act both in the brain and outside of it; this is the case, for example, of serotonin, also called 5-HT. The 5-HT is deeply embedded in the functioning of the human body and learning all its memory functions can be very difficult. However, here you will find six of the main effects of this substance on the human body.

1. It has a fundamental role in digestion.

Serotonin is a substance that acts as a hormone in the blood and acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain. That is, it is one of the communication units that neurons capture and emit to influence each other, creating a dynamic brain activation. and chain effects. Thus, serotonin promotes the crossover of information between neurons and, beyond the brain, serves very different purposes. In fact, the highest concentrations of serotonin are not in the brain but in the gastrointestinal tract; fulfill a primary function: the regulation of digestion. Too high levels of serotonin are related to the onset of diarrhea, while an excessive deficit of this substance can cause constipation. In addition, it also influences the appearance (or lack thereof) of appetite.

2. Regulates positive and negative moods

Serotonin can be found in large quantities in many parts of the body, and therefore a general imbalance in the production of this substance may have drastic effects on many factors They affect how we feel and behave. Specifically, serotonin has been associated for many years with symptoms of depression because people with such a disorder tend to have low concentrations of 5-HT in their blood. However, it is unclear to what extent is the serotonin deficiency that produces depression or vice versa.

3. Controls the body temperature level.

Among the basic maintenance functions of the integrity of our body that we associate with serotonin, there is the thermal regulation. This is a very delicate balance, since a difference of a few degrees in body temperature may imply the massive death of large groups of cellular tissues. Neurons, for example, are particularly sensitive in this regard.

4. Influence sexual desire.

A correlation between serotonin levels and sexual libido was found. High levels of 5-HT are associated with a lack of sexual desire, while low levels would promote the onset of behaviors to meet this need. In addition, serotonin also appears to affect the ability of humans to fall in love and to feel love for another person.

5. Reduces levels of aggression.

Serotonin also serves to stabilize the emotional state of the human being in stressful situations. Specifically, it serves to inhibit aggression and the violent behaviors that may result. Thus, the most impulsive and violent people tend to have lower levels of serotonin acting on key points in the brain than those who are more peaceful.
In addition, this substance becomes particularly bad with testosterone, a hormone that, by acting on neurons, making them more insensitive to serotonin, reinforces aggressive behavior

6. It regulates the cycle of Sleep

Throughout the day, serotonin levels describe the curves that mark the circadian rhythm, the time that our body follows to know when to sleep and when not to sleep. and this therefore regulates our sleep and our awakening. Thus, the levels of 5-HT tend to reach their maximum in the sunniest moments of the day, while during the deep sleep they fall to their minimum.

In this way, the production of serotonin influences our ability to sleep, promote or hinder the reconciliation of sleep. Something similar happens with another substance called melatonin.