Author Of Overloaded: How Every Aspect Of Your Life Is Influenced By Your Brain Chemicals
CurrentOur lives are shaped by our brain chemicals. They create our fondest memories, influence how we make decisions and who we love, and dictate basic survival drives such as hunger, fear and sleep. Molecules like adrenaline, dopamine and serotonin may commonly crop up in headlines, but how much do we really know about how hormones and neurotransmitters control every aspect of our lives?In Overloaded, author Ginny Smith explores exactly what these tiny molecules do. She digs into the history of brain chemistry, uncovering stories of scientists’ curiosity and persistence in the face of huge challenges, and discovers cutting-edge research that is revealing the unexpected connections between these crucial chemicals. Ginny also delves into what happens when we mess with the delicate balance of the chemicals in our brains, by taking medicinal or recreational drugs. Along the way, she touches on some of the biggest questions in science, from free will to consciousness. Why do we remember emotional days better than humdrum ones? What makes it so hard to resist the smell of freshly baked pastries? How do we fall in love, and decide to spend our life with just one person? This mind-bending, eye-opening book answers all these questions and more, and takes readers on a journey through the remarkable world of neurotransmitters, the chemicals inside each of us that touch every aspect of our lives
