Neurobiology of Action

Each time you lift your finger to do something, there is a cascade of events that take place to allow you to do so.

Let us try and understand the neurobiology of each action taken by you.

Dopamine is an excitory chemical. An excitory chemical allows your brain to send signals to excite a part of your body - your finger in this case. To wag if you like. 

Depending on how long you wish the action to persist or your level of excitement, adrenaline will kick in. Adrenaline is like a power boost for your actions.

Commonly known as your stress response, the role of adrenaline is much misunderstood.

Adrenaline is wonderful for you in short bursts.

It allows you to power through your action, but should ideally be required for a few minutes. Chronic production of adrenaline is problematic. 

Next, oxytocin kicks in. Oxytocin is known as the love hormone. But oxytocin is also a reward for your action.

Your brain has to believe that you did the right thing by wagging your finger. It was the appropriate response, and therefore a reward is due for your action. 

Finally, endorphins kick in. Endorphins are your feel-good hormones. It gives you the rush or kick to perform your action. Think of it as a pat on the back from mom. Do it again, she says. 

While action may seem fluid and fairly automated, a cascade of events needs to take place to enable you to do so. If the loop was not complete, the body would not find the motivation to perform an action again and again. 

Here is the magic. 

Since your body has to follow this cascade, you can train yourself to build good habits. Habits linked to the release of neuro chemicals will become long-term habits.

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