Hungry and aggressive? BlameserotoninJune 7th, 2008 • Related • Filed Under

Ever wonder why you sometimes turn aggressive when you areextremely hungry? The culprit may be serotonin, or rather the lack of it.

Low serotonin levels have long been associated with depression,obsessive-compulsive disorder and severe anxiety, but a new study saysit is also linked to impulsiveness - and to aggression.

The essential amino acid required for the creation of serotonin can onlybe obtained through your diet. Consequently, serotonin levels declinewhen we don’t eat, a fact noted by researchers.

Priyanka ChopraShilpa Shetty

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Hence the link between hunger and aggression.

The study also provides an insight into clinical disorders characterisedby low serotonin levels, such as depression and obsessive compulsivedisorder (OCD), and may help explain some of the social difficultiesassociated with these disorders.

This research suggests that patients with depression and anxietydisorders may benefit from therapies that teach them strategies forregulating emotions during decision-making, particularly in socialscenarios.

Molly Crockett, who conducted the research, said: “Our results suggestthat serotonin plays a critical role in social decision-making by normallykeeping aggressive social responses in check.

“Changes in diet and stress cause our serotonin levels to fluctuatenaturally, so it’s important to understand how this might affect oureveryday decision-making.”

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