How To Build A More Positive Brain

By Debbie Hampton

Guest Writer for Wake Up World

While the idea of having either a sunny brain or a rainy brain is a little bit extreme, it’s not too far off base because optimistic brains actually do functiondifferently than pessimistic ones.

As science has begun to unravel and validate the complex neurobiology of positive emotion and optimism, it’s been discovered that three brain regions play a crucial role in making and keeping you optimistic.

How Your Brain Makes Optimism

The prefrontal cortex (PFC), the “executive center” of your brain, guides your behavior, regulates emotion, and motivates you towards reward and away from pain or danger. The PFC also allows you to set goals and plan for and imagine the future, which are directly related to optimism.

The second part(s) of your brain involved in creating optimism are your amygdala (there are two of them), which are the triggers for raw emotions such as fear and rage or delight and joy.

The third essential players in creating an optimistic brain are the areas located mostly in the midbrain making up your reward circuit and involved in the release of dopamine, the neurotransmitter most closely associated with reward. The reward circuit and corresponding punishment circuit supply the necessary motivation for most of your behaviors. The reward circuit is activated any time you perform behaviors that you enjoy. Studies have shown that stress reduces activity in the reward circuit.

While optimism has a substantial hereditary component, like any personality trait, it’s also heavily influenced by experience. Only 30-50% of most personality traits are genetically inherited. The good news is that this means 50-70% of how optimistic you are depends on environment and your effort and input. The science of epigenetics is confirming that social and environmental factors alter your genetic code and that the genes you’re born with don’t have to be your destiny.

The PFC, involved in optimism and the reward circuit, is also conveniently in charge of learning, and it can be strengthened and exercised much like you pump up your biceps. Your brain is malleable and can learn to be more optimistic.

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Previous articles by Debbie Hampton:

• Naming and Taming Worry and Anxiety
• Understanding the Difference Between Emotions and Feelings – and Why It Matters

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