Happiness - Interdisciplinarity of Serotonin

Neuroscience proved that our happiness is based on how a neurotransmitter succeeds to carry out its duties. Yet, researchers have proved that serotonin is the binding messenger of our happiness, that helps us deal with everyday stress. Even though it seems like we are discussing about a chapter in Biology with neurons and neurotransmitters, things are never what they seem and not as simple as we think. It's about interrelationship, interdependence and interdisciplinarity because we're talking about a balance that makes this whole thing properly working.

If we are talking about chemistry, serotonin or the happy hormone is called 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), a monoamine of the indoleamine class, serotonin being synthesized from the essential amino acid L-tryptophan.

From a biological point of view, we can discuss serotonin as a catalyst for the correct functioning of physiological processes. This key neurotransmitter is also synthesized in certain specialized cells in the stomach and intestine, playing an important role in controlling bowel movements to help it function properly. It is released from enterochromaffin cells in the walls of the stomach and intestines to support contractions in the digestive system, thus avoiding the onset of irritable bowel syndrome. Increasing serotonin production regulates the feeling of nausea and thus helps to eliminate potentially harmful substances from the body. In terms of the biology-psychiatry interrelationship, serotonin has a major impact on mood, this neurotransmitter being responsible for regulating emotional balance. This is proven by research in the field, certain drugs that increase the level of serotonin in the brain can relieve the symptoms of depression and nervous balance disorders, yet the side effects on long term show that the problem is not solved.

Starting from the question "What mathematical calculations are involved in fixing the level of serotonin?" we must emphasize that we can understand the behavior of this neurotransmitter in neural networks and the description of its dynamics with the help of mathematical modelling. The basis of understanding involves deciphering how it is released from nerve endings and subsequent reabsorption, processes that can be mathematically modelled by differential or partial equations related to external and internal factors. At the neural level, mathematics explains, through association constants and parameters, the influence mode of the analyzed neurotransmitter. Researchers in the field use statistical analysis, curve fitting, and boosting algorithms as mathematical methods to analyze and display experimental data.

In conclusion, our happiness is not defined only by biology, chemistry or psychiatry! All of these pretty different main topics, coming together, form the perfect balance in order for this algorithm to work, with its main goal being common with the personal goal of each of us: achieving happiness.