Page 44 - C:\Users\Test\OneDrive\Documents\CDA- Henrietta\
P. 44
Neurobiological Influences
➢ Cortisol is the stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Money and other stressors can cause us to
over-produce cortisol which acts like a toxin to the brain. Too much cortisol - flooding the brain - is not
unlike too much gas in the carburetor – it causes us to malfunction!
➢ Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate our mood, sleep, memory, aging and learning. When
we have low levels of serotonin, we may suffer from depression. This can impact our ability to manage our
daily financial stressors and lower our coping skills.
➢ Adrenaline is a hormone and a neurotransmitter. As such, adrenaline acts on nearly all body tissues. It is
secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress and increases heart rate, pulse rate, and blood
pressure, and raises the blood levels of glucose and lipids.
➢ Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for reward-driven learning. It functions like “dope” to
the brain and creates feelings of euphoria, causing us to want “more” in order to reproduce the sensation
or “natural high.”
44
