Modern neuroscience has revealed how health affects the brain's structure, chemistry, and function — knowledge that's transforming treatment approaches.
The Brain Regions Involved in Health
Key brain areas implicated in health include:
- Amygdala: The brain's threat-detection center becomes hyperactive in health, triggering excessive fear and stress responses
- Prefrontal Cortex: Responsible for rational thinking and emotional regulation — its function is often impaired by health
- Hippocampus: Memory and context processing; chronic health can affect its volume and function
- HPA Axis: The stress hormone system that, when dysregulated, drives many physical symptoms of health
Neurochemistry of Health
Health involves imbalances or dysregulation of key neurotransmitters including serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and GABA — all targets of current treatments.
How Treatment Changes the Brain
Both therapy and medication produce measurable changes in brain function in health. CBT, for example, has been shown to normalize amygdala reactivity.
Neuroplasticity and Health
The brain retains its ability to change throughout life. This neuroplasticity means that with appropriate treatment and practice, the neural patterns underlying health can genuinely change.