INTRODUCTION:

Have you ever wondered someday you get up in morning with real bad mood while nothing bad actually happened. Recently a young girl came to me a problem of frequent mood swings with no apparent cause. Sometimes we feel to celebrate while nothing really worth celebrating happened. Do you wonder why we swing so much between our mood daily and energy levels while we literally have the same daily routine on 300 days out of 365.What is the reason of all this drama of mind and the play behind. Yes it is all the game of neurotransmitters.

The ups and downs of these chemicals display in our mood and interestingly these chemicals secretions are affected by our lifestyles that means what we eat, drink, sleep, drive, occupation a, meetings vacations family friends, religious and spiritual tendencies activities thought process desires everything is connected to these chemicals, Namely dopamine, serotonin, adrenalin, nor adrenaline etc. So are we simply puppets to these fluids, mainly yes if not controlled.

Is there any remedy or a way out where we can actually control these neuro chemicals

One wonderful way of good mind control is mindfulness along with adopting a healthy and responsible life. There are lot of meditation modalities available .We can choose chanting, breathing, progressive relaxation, japa affirmations or simple belief therapies, visualizations, guided imagery to balance these chemicals playing a havoc where we swing between melancholy and mania where we simply loose our awareness with surroundings, regret being not present in the present moment, where we regret for what we spoke, how we behaved and what should not have had happened in the fit of the moment etc. A number of researches have proved that meditation has positively affected brain wherein we can do brain programming to secrete only feel good hormones up to various levels, it can be controlled in a way where we balance or slow down or completely stop the flow of negative feeling neurotransmitters or hormones and make our lives better even in the most challenging environment and state of life.

Meditation is the practice of being calm and aware in the here and now. With complete participation or disengagement, it is an art of effectively managing attentional energy. Self-fulfilment, self-awareness, spontaneity, tranquility, and independence are all inherent components of well-being which are promoted through meditation.¹ In addition to altering memory, cognition, social and emotional regulation meditation improves a number of neurological, autoimmune, cardiovascular, and renal disorders. Meditation is now frequently employed in psychological and medical treatments for physical and mental illnesses brought on by stress. It produces a change in neurotransmitters, endorphins, hormones.² On the molecular level, meditation is believed to increase dopamine and melatonin, modulate serotonin activity, and decrease cortisol as well as norepinephrine. These findings are reflected in functional and structural changes documented by imaging techniques such as fMRI or EEG. They may be relevant for medicine and health care, especially with reference to therapeutic strategies for behavior change and life-style modification, or in association with stress regulation and the treatment of addiction.³

Serotonin is mostly produced in the Raphe nuclei of the brain stem and is projected to the lobes, hippocampus, cerebellum, and nucleus accumbens, among other parts of the brain. It counteracts the excitatory effects of other neurotransmitters by acting as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Majority of serotonin is located in the gastrointestinal system, which supports normal digestion, outside of the brain. The brain's reward system, motivation, and pleasure are all significantly influenced by dopamine. It travels to different parts of the brain via the mesolimbic and mesocortical pathways after being heavily concentrated in the midbrain, specifically in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Numerous mental health issues are associated with imbalances in either neurotransmitters For e.g. Depression, anxiety, irritability, and sleep issues and disorders like OCD are all linked to low serotonin levels. Fatigue, a lack of drive, trouble concentrating, and a diminished sensation of pleasure are all associated with low dopamine. It contributes to disorders like Parkinson's disease, depression, and ADHD. Psychosis and positive symptoms of schizophrenia, like hallucinations, have been associated with excess dopamine. Dopamine may become overactive when serotonin levels are low, which could lead to impulsive or violent behaviour. Therefore, the secret to controlling emotions is striking a balance between the two. Running, dancing, or brisk walking are examples of aerobic exercises that enhance tryptophan availability and boost dopamine release, two factors that are essential for emotional resilience. Serotonin is increased by 15 minutes of daily exposure to sunlight, which helps to improve mood and regulate circadian rhythm. Serotonin and dopamine levels can be naturally raised by a regular bedtime, a sleep-friendly atmosphere, and positive social engagement, such as laughing with friends, receiving physical affection, or feeling understood. Being mindful, deep breathing techniques and meditation improve serotonin release and lower stress. In the long run, mindfulness might also help dopamine pathways that are connected to focus and attention.⁴

Research has indicated the potential for alterations in serotonin and melatonin levels after meditation. To evaluate the impact of Vipassana meditation on long-term meditators', a research study was done to assess the serum levels of serotonin and melatonin and compare them to a control group that does not meditate. Commercial ELISA kits were used to measure the serum levels. The meditator group had significantly higher median concentrations of melatonin (18.3ng/ml) and serotonin (149.0ng/ml) than the control group (15.6 ng/ml; p = 0.006) and serotonin (118.1ng/ml; p < 0.001). Hence it is proved that long-term meditators have higher levels of serotonin and melatonin, which may help people relax and reduce stress.⁵

A systematic review via PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases yielded studies indicating that neurobiological alterations are possible through meditation. Mindfulness practices impact the brain's neurotransmitter systems. For instance, it has been discovered that regular meditation practitioners have higher GABA levels. More significant amounts of the neurotransmitter GABA will assist a person feel less anxious, enhancing the mood simultaneously by lowering brain activity. Mindfulness has also been linked to evidence of increased serotonin production. The body uses serotonin to help control a person's mood and emotions of overall well-being. Conversely, elevated BDNF levels improves emotional and cognitive resilience. Last but not least, mindfulness decreases levels of cortisol, the primary hormone linked to stress, suggesting a reduction in the body's stress. People can select a meditation regimen that fits their individual preferences and goals by understanding these various approaches. Each strategy offers a unique way to enhance mental and emotional well-being, highlighting the importance of choosing the one that best fits each person's needs and objectives. Mindfulness may influence the neural circuits underlying stress response and reward processing, as evidenced by positive impacts on brain health observed in situations related to addiction diseases and palliative care. The autonomic nervous system's calming effect helps to lessen the sympathetic "fight or flight" response, promoting calmness and mental clarity.^6.

Transcendental meditation has been shown to have beneficial and significant documented neurochemical, neurophysiological, and cognitive-behavioral effects, according to scientific studies published in June 2018 in the National Centre for Biotechnology Information's (NCBI) PubMed database. The main benefits include a decrease in stress and anxiety brought on by a drop in cortisol and norepinephrine levels, as well as an increase in feelings of pleasure and wellbeing brought on by a rise in dopamine and serotonin production and release. Melatonin and beta-endorphin synthesis are directly associated with MT's stimulation of the arcuate nucleus and lateral nuclei. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, is secreted by the reticular nucleus as a result of the increased activity of the CPF during meditation. According to certain research, meditation increases GABAergic concentration, which may lessen external inputs reaching the visual cortex and PSPL and heighten feelings of focus. According to a study using imaging techniques like positron emission tomography (PET), meditation significantly raises dopamine levels. The pineal gland's hypothalamic innervation plays a role in the synthesis and release of more serotonin. Given that there is more parasympathetic activation and less sympathetic stimulation during the meditative practice, the decrease in cardiac and respiratory frequency is linked to the increase in dopamine and the decrease in cortisol and noradrenaline. Neuroprotection is another benefit of meditation, when cortisol production and release decline, stress levels drop, which may be related to the size of the hippocampal area in meditation practitioners. Lastly, those who meditate have a reduction in oxidative stress, which lowers the incidence of Alzheimer's and brain vascular illnesses. Meditation helps individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder significantly reduce the intensity of their symptoms, including obsessions, anxiety, and depressive episodes. The quality of life and relationships with family, friends, and coworkers are also significantly impacted for patients who continued to meditate in addition to receiving psychotherapy. It is determined that the TM has favourable and noteworthy documented impacts on practitioners' neurochemistry, neurophysiology, and cognitive-behavioral functioning.⁷

Plasma melatonin and blood serotonin concentrations were examined before and after an hour of meditation in experienced male meditators as part of a neurotransmitter study to demonstrate that advanced meditators have higher melatonin levels than non-meditators. A matched reference group that rested for an hour was used to compare them. Serotonin levels dropped in both the reference group and the meditators after an hour of meditation (p0.01). According to the research, melatonin levels are higher in expert meditators than in non-meditators.⁸

A study was done to find whether endogenous dopamine release rises when meditation causes a loss of consciousness and executive control. Dopamine, an endogenous neurotransmitter, was seen to be associated with a shift in conscious experience in vivo. While doing yog nidra meditation striatal dopamine release increased causing a decreased desire for action among subjects. The subjects had two 11C-raclopride PET scans, one while actively meditating and the other while listening to speech with their eyes closed. In the ventral striatum, 7.9% of 11C-raclopride binding dropped while meditating while a rise in 65% endogenous dopamine production recorded. A strong correlation was found between the decreased raclopride binding and an increase in EEG theta activity, which is a hallmark of meditation. Between the attentiveness and meditation conditions, there was no difference in the degree of satisfaction or the degree of relaxation.⁹Neurophysiological effects, involving dopamine and serotonin, were studied in a pilot study involving participants go through a rigorous seven-day spiritual retreat. Participants were scanned using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) before and after spiritual retreat. Following the retreat program, there were notable reductions in serotonin transporter binding in the midbrain and dopamine transporter binding in the basal ganglia. Additionally, taking part in the retreat led to notable improvements in a number of spiritual and psychological metrics.¹⁰

CONCLUSION:

Brain programming can help people train their mind react a positive way even in tough, challenging and negative situations. Brain programming helps brain to see through a positive attitude in every aspect of life in all situations, it provides a cementing to situations we cannot control. And if feeling good and positive can be in our hands, we can set the remote control of our mind to always think and release feel good neurotransmitters and block the release of impulsive hormones and chemicals which produce negativity and depression in life.

So, what are you waiting for, train your mind for a best mindful and happy life today and tomorrow.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

None.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

My deepest thanks to Ms Amali Mery, Professor Mental Health Department, Ms Arti, Associate Professor OBG Department, Shri Swami Bhumanand College of Nursing, Haridwar for peer review of this short article.

REFERENCES:

1. Deshmukh D V The Scientific World Journal Neuroscience of Meditation 2006; https://doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2006.353

2. Jindal V, Gupta S and Das R Molecular mechanisms of meditation.2013; 48(3):808-11. doi: 10.1007/s12035-013-8468-9. Epub 2013 Jun 5. PMID: 23737355

3. Esch T. The Neurobiology of Meditation and Mindfulness. Studies in Neuroscience, Consciousness and Spirituality 2013; volume 2: pp 153–173

4. Guy-Evans O, McLeod S Dopamine and Serotonin: Our Own Happy Chemicals Simply Psychology. 202

5. Thambyrajah JC, Dilanthi HW, Handunnetti SM, Dissanayake D Serum melatonin and serotonin levels in long-term skilled meditators. Explore (NY). 2023 Sep-Oct; 19(5):695-701.DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2023.03.006

6. Calderone. A et al Neurobiological Changes Induced by Mindfulness and Meditation: A Systematic Neurobiology and Clinical Neuroscience 2024; 12(11): 2613. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12112613

7. Bras. Neurophysiological, cognitive-behavioral and neurochemical effects in practitioners of transcendental meditation - A literature review. 2019; 65 (5). https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9282.65.5.706

8. Solberg EE Holen A, Ekeberg, Sterud B, Halvorsen R, Sandvik L The effects of long meditation on plasma melatonin and blood serotonin. International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research. 2004; 10(3): CR96-101 PMID: 14976457

9. Kjaer W Camilla Bertelsen Cet al Increased dopamine tone during meditation-induced change of consciousness Troels 2002; 13(2): 255-259. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0926-6410(01)00106-9

10. NewbergB A, et al. Effect of a one-week spiritual retreat on dopamine and serotonin transporter binding: a preliminary study. Religion, Brain and Behavior 2017; 8: 265-278. https://doi.org/10.1080/2153599X.2016.1267035

Received on 28.08.2025 Revised on 23.10.2025

Accepted on 25.11.2025 Published on 23.02.2026

Available online from February 28, 2026

Int. J. of Advances in Nursing Management. 2026;14(1):65-68.

DOI: 10.52711/2454-2652.2026.00014

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Creative Commons License.