What Part of the Brain Controls Mental Health?
The human brain is an incredibly complex organ, and it’s responsible for every function in our body. From how we think, learn, and interpret our surroundings to how we move and communicate—the brain does it all.
As humans spread out across the earth, they had to adapt to their new environments and needed to rely on their brains to store and withdraw important information.
Because of this, it has tripled in size and grown more sophisticated over the course of our evolution. So sophisticated, in fact, that even with centuries of detailed study, experts still aren’t 100% sure about the exact inner workings of the human brain.
But what about mental health? How does the brain affect our moods and emotions?
The good news is, we do have some insights into the parts of the brain that play the biggest role in our overall mental and emotional well-being.
We’ll dive a little deeper into the anatomy of this intricate organ, how different brain regions are affected by mental health issues, and a few tips to help keep your brain and mental health in tip-top shape.
What part of the brain is involved in mental health?
Many parts of the brain contribute to how we think, feel, and behave, but the limbic system is the main regulator of mental health and emotions.
The limbic system can be split up into 4 main sections:
- Thalamus
- Amygdala
- Hypothalamus
- Hippocampus
But what are they? Let’s take a closer look at each one.
Thalamus
The thalamus takes in all of our sensory information, except smell. This information passes through the thalamus before being sent to the brain’s cerebral cortex for processing.
Aside from relaying sensory information to other parts of the brain, the thalamus regulates some important things in our bodies:
- Sleep and alertness
- Memory
- Planning
- Emotions
Amygdala
Your amygdala is another small but mighty part of your brain. It acts as a major processing center for emotions, especially in situations involving anxiety, fear, or anger.
The amygdala processes the information you get from your surroundings and decides how to react. If it senses danger, it sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus, which responds to the perceived threat by releasing hormones that trigger our ‘fight-or-flight’ stress response.
Hypothalamus
Your hypothalamus, a tiny part of your brain about the size of an almond, has an important job to do. Its task is to keep the body in a state of balance called homeostasis, and it’s considered the control center of the brain.
It does this by managing several important functions:
- Body temperature
- Blood pressure
- Hunger and thirst
- Sleep
- Mood
The hypothalamus also produces hormones, including dopamine. This is a ‘feel-good’ hormone that gives you a sense of pleasure. Things like shopping, listening to music, exercising, and even the smell of baking cookies can give us a rush of mood-boosting dopamine.
Hippocampus
Your hippocampus plays a major role in your ability to learn, and your capacity to store and recall short-term and long-term memory.
Your hippocampus and amygdala work together to connect memories to emotions in an effort to protect you from danger. If your first experience with a dog was a scary one, your hippocampus and the rest of your limbic system store that information, so the next time you see a dog, you’ll feel frightened and anxious.
Our brain’s role in mental health
Healthy brain function is closely linked to mental well-being. While genetics, substance abuse, or previous trauma can all cause or contribute to developing a mental illness, many scientists believe that most mental health concerns come from communication problems between neurons in the brain.
And not only can brain function impact mental health, but the relationship between our emotional wellness and our physical brain goes both ways. Researchers have found actual changes in the brain that occur as a result of anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder.
Our brain and anxiety
Everyone feels scared or worried from time to time. It becomes an issue when it’s an ongoing feeling that starts to interfere with your daily life and happiness.
Conditions like panic disorder, social anxiety, or generalized anxiety disorder can keep your stress level high and completely disrupt your daily life.
There’s a region in your frontal lobe that can amplify the stress signals that come from the amygdala, leading to a surge in anxiety.
On a scientific level, experts have explained anxiety as though the brain is split into a cognitive brain (the frontal lobe) and an emotional brain (the amygdala). Anxiety is thought to arise when signals from the amygdala overpower the frontal lobe.
Untreated chronic anxiety has been shown to cause structural decline and damage to the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex—the areas responsible for memory, learning, regulating your emotions, and controlling behavior and impulses.
How depression changes the brain
A low mood or a bad day here and there is normal and nothing to worry about. However, if you’re experiencing a persistent feeling of sadness or losing interest in things you once loved, it can be a sign of depression.
While stress alone doesn’t necessarily lead to depression, it can often be the inability to cope with stress that brings on depression.
Neurotransmitters—like serotonin and norepinephrine—send messages between neurons or from neurons to muscles. These neurotransmitters are thought to behave abnormally in people with depression.
Serotonin regulates your mood, making you feel calmer and happier when your body produces the right amount.
Norepinephrine helps you feel alert and focused. Too much can cause anxiety, while too little can bring about depression.
Ongoing episodes of depression can cause a greater loss of gray matter tissue in the brain—mainly in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex—often leading to memory problems.
Tips for a healthy brain
We don’t often think about our physical brains in relation to our mental well-being, but to keep our mental health in the best possible shape, having a healthy brain is a must—both now and in the long term. Here are a few ways you can take care of your brain:
Exercise physically and mentally
Exercise benefits your whole body—including your brain! A study found that cognitive decline is twice as common in adults who aren’t physically active, so it helps to make moving your body part of your everyday routine.
But physical exercise isn’t the only way to keep your brain in shape. Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and reading are all excellent ways to keep your mind sharp and your mental health in better balance.
Prioritize sleep
A lack of sleep leaves your brain and body exhausted and unable to function at their best. Establishing a solid sleep routine supports your brain’s ability to focus, make decisions, and control your impulses in top-notch condition.
Vary your diet
Your gut is often referred to as your ‘second brain’—and for good reason! Studies are finding that gut health may have a bigger impact on our mental wellness than we’d previously imagined.
Adding more brain-friendly foods to your diet can be an easy way to nourish your mind and body. Nuts, leafy greens, fish, olive oil, and berries are all linked to better brainpower.
Get the support you need to keep your brain happy and healthy
Western Tidewater Community Services Board (WTCSB) offers a range of mental health services for those in the Suffolk, Franklin, Southampton County, and Isle of Wight County areas.
Our team of experienced mental health professionals is on hand to help you through life’s stresses. Our services include crisis support, children’s and adult services, substance abuse treatment, intellectual and developmental support, prevention programs, and same-day access.
Get in touch today to start prioritizing your well-being. Need urgent help? Call our 24-hour emergency line at (757) 925-2484.