IM Subscribe register IM Subscribe Login Created with Sketch. * IM Join us? Subscribe register IM Join us? Subscribe * Login * Please wait.... * * News + UK + US + World + UK Politics + Brexit + Final Say + Science + Environment + Health + Education + Tech + Business + InFact * Politics + Brexit + Conservatives + Labour + Lib Dems + SNP + DUP + US Politics + Theresa May + Jeremy Corbyn * Voices + Final Say + Drop The Target + Editorials + Shappi Khorsandi + Robert Fisk + Mark Steel + Chuka Umunna + Mary Dejevsky + Matthew Norman + John Rentoul * Final Say + Sign the petition * Sport + Football + Rugby union + Cricket + F1 + Boxing + Tennis + Cycling + Golf + Jonathan Liew + Miguel Delaney + Podcast * Culture + Film + Music + TV & radio + Books + Art + Photography + Theatre & dance + Geoffrey Macnab + Podcast + Crosswords & puzzles * Video * Indy/Life + Travel + Women + Fashion & beauty + Food & drink + Dating & relationships + Health & fitness + Tech + Money + Design & home + Motoring * IndyBest + Home & garden + Kids + Books + Travel & outdoors + Fashion & beauty + Food & drink + Tech + Sports & fitness * Long Reads * AIDSFREE * indy100 * Vouchers + TUI + Groupon + Argos + Mobiles.co.uk + Just Eat + Currys + Gymshark + Clarks + Myprotein + boohoo * Please wait.... * + UK Edition + US Edition Join us? Subscribe / register Join us? Subscribe * News + InFact + UK + US + World + Politics + Final Say + Science + Education + Environment + Health + Long reads + Business + Obituaries * Politics + Brexit + Conservatives + Labour + Lib Dems + SNP + DUP + Ukip + US Politics + Theresa May + Jeremy Corbyn * Voices + Robert Fisk + Mark Steel + Janet Street-Porter + John Rentoul + Jenny Éclair + Chuka Ummuna + Shappi Khorsandi + Editorials + Letters * Final Say + Gina Miller + Our view + Sign the petition + Spread the word + Steve Coogan * Sport + Football + Rugby Union + Cricket + Tennis + Golf + Motor racing + Cycling + US sports + Rugby League * Culture + Books + Film + TV + Music + Art + Theatre & dance + Geoffrey Macnab + Podcast * Indy/life + Travel + Fashion & beauty + Food & drink + Health & fitness + Love & relationships + Tech o iPhone o Tech news o Tech culture o Gaming o Cryptocurrency + Design & home + Motoring + Women * Video + News videos + Explainer videos + Sport videos + People + culture videos * IndyBest + Sports & Fitness + Home & Garden + Kids + Books + Fashion & Beauty + Food & Drink + Travel & Outdoors + Tech * Money + Mortgages + Loans + Savings + Pensions + Money transfers + Health insurance + Money Deals * indy100 * Extras + Corrections + Competitions & offers + Puzzles + Crosswords + Apps + The Independent Books + Jobs + Voucher Codes * Subscribe + Subscription offers + Subscription sign in + Read latest edition * UK Edition + UK Edition + US Edition Please wait.... Log in using your social network account OR Log in directly with The Independent {{message}} ____________________ Please enter an email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address ____________________ Please enter a valid password [ ] Keep me logged in (BUTTON) Submit Forgotten your password? Try Independent Minds free for 14 days See the options Hi {{fullName}} * My Independent Minds * Account details * Help centre * Logout To help you reach the seven-figure mark, we rounded up nine pieces of advice from people who became millionaires at a young age. ( Monkey Business Images/REX Shutterstock ) The science of happiness: Everything you need to know about the feeling we all crave * Jodie Tyley * Thursday 31 December 2015 16:12 * * {{^moreThanTen}} {{total}} comments {{/moreThanTen}} Click to follow Indy/Life The prospect of a new year inspires many people to make resolutions and transform their lives. In doing so, we are all essentially chasing happiness. But what causes this emotion, and others, and could this help us capture the emotion we all crave? Human emotions are governed by a complex mixture of chemicals and electricity. The human brain weighs over a kilogram (2.2 pounds) and has an estimated 86 billion neurons. Signals are transmitted along each nerve electrically, by gradients of charged ions, and each neuron makes hundreds of connections to those around it. At each of the 300 trillion synapses in the human brain, chemicals known as neurotransmitters relay messages from one nerve to another. Each neurotransmitter has a set of corresponding receptors, which can be activatory or inhibitory, helping nerves to fire, or preventing them from working. This enormous chemical and electrical network provides the complexity that enables us to feel emotion, from the all-consuming addiction of love, to the raw devastation of grief. Join Independent Minds For exclusive articles, events and an advertising-free read for just £5.99 €6.99 $9.99 a month (BUTTON) Start your free trial Get the best of The Independent With an Independent Minds subscription for just £5.99 €6.99 $9.99 a month (BUTTON) Start your free trial Get the best of The Independent Without the ads – for just £5.99 €6.99 $9.99 a month (BUTTON) Start your free trial Read more * Harvard psychiatrist says three things are secret to real happiness * These are the 10 countries with the happiest workers * Neurologists have worked out the key to finding happiness * Happiness is fulfilling your career goals by 27, suggests new study Imaging techniques have helped to reveal the areas of the brain involved in processing different emotional responses. This data, in combination with case studies of patients with damage to certain areas of their brains, and information gathered from investigations in animals, has enabled us to draw up a rough map of the emotional connections in the brain. A notable area of the brain when it comes to our mood is the limbic system, a small cluster of interconnected regions involved in memory processing and decision-making. It also has a role in motivation and the processing of emotion. The limbic system is directly connected to the olfactory bulb, which processes incoming smell signals from the nose, providing the biological link that allows smells to bring back a memory. Recent research at the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience in Norway suggests smell-based memories are triggered with corresponding brain waves. The nucleus accumbens links the limbic system to other areas of the brain also known to have an involvement in the processing of emotion. For instance, the basal ganglia, at the base of the forebrain, has been well studied for its role in the planning and co-ordination of movement, but certain areas also light up in response to positive emotional stimuli, and are thought to be involved in reward and reinforcement. Damage to part of the basal ganglia, known as the ventral pallidum, causes anhedonia – the inability to experience pleasure. The orbitofrontal cortex, meanwhile, located just above the eyes, also lights up in response to positive experiences, and is thought to play a role in evaluating reward versus punishment. Created with Sketch. Happiest places in the UK - in pictures Show all 10 Created with Sketch. Created with Sketch. (BUTTON) Created with Sketch. Happiest places in the UK - in pictures 1/10 Harrogate The north Yorkshire spa town has topped the list Christopher Furlong/Getty Images 2/10 Shrewsbury Shrewsbury in Shropshire is the second happiest place to live Creative Commons/Gnesener1900 3/10 Ipswich Ipswich in Suffolk, one of England's oldest towns, came in third Mkonikkara / Creative Commons 4/10 York York, with its stunning cathedral, came fourth andyspicturesurl/Creative Commons 5/10 Chester A view of the Eastgate clock in Chester. The Cheshire city is the fifth happiest place to live Neil Kennedy/Creative Commons 6/10 Inverness A woman stretches over a fruit stall at Inverness market. The Scottish town came in sixth Dan Kitwood/Getty Images 7/10 Llandrindod Wells The lake at Llandrindod Wells - the Welsh town voted seventh happiest in the UK Andrew Hill/Creative Commons 8/10 Hemel Hempstead Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire came eighth Creative Commons 9/10 Watford The second Hertfordshire town on the list, Watford came ninth Creative Commons 10/10 Blackpool The Lancashire town of Blackpool - famous for its tower and beach donkey rides - was number 10 Creative Commons 1/10 Harrogate The north Yorkshire spa town has topped the list Christopher Furlong/Getty Images 2/10 Shrewsbury Shrewsbury in Shropshire is the second happiest place to live Creative Commons/Gnesener1900 3/10 Ipswich Ipswich in Suffolk, one of England's oldest towns, came in third Mkonikkara / Creative Commons 4/10 York York, with its stunning cathedral, came fourth andyspicturesurl/Creative Commons 5/10 Chester A view of the Eastgate clock in Chester. The Cheshire city is the fifth happiest place to live Neil Kennedy/Creative Commons 6/10 Inverness A woman stretches over a fruit stall at Inverness market. The Scottish town came in sixth Dan Kitwood/Getty Images 7/10 Llandrindod Wells The lake at Llandrindod Wells - the Welsh town voted seventh happiest in the UK Andrew Hill/Creative Commons 8/10 Hemel Hempstead Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire came eighth Creative Commons 9/10 Watford The second Hertfordshire town on the list, Watford came ninth Creative Commons 10/10 Blackpool The Lancashire town of Blackpool - famous for its tower and beach donkey rides - was number 10 Creative Commons Another approach to the study of complex emotions, like happiness, is to break them down into smaller parts. Pleasure is evolutionarily ancient and is based on a chemical reward system that acts as a biological incentive to repeat beneficial behaviour. There are several ‘reward pathways’ in the brain, but the best studied is the mesolimbic pathway. The pathway transmits dopamine signals from nerves in the middle of the brain, upward and forward, to the limbic system and the prefrontal cortex, both of which are involved in emotional processing. Under normal conditions, this pathway serves as a motivator for positive actions, producing pleasurable feelings that reinforce evolutionarily beneficial behaviour like eating high-calorie food, social interaction and reproduction. Activation of the pathway also aids in memory storage, increasing the likelihood that the action will be repeated in the future. It’s not all about the brain though. The feelings associated with emotions are the result of a complex mixture of incoming sensory messages from all over the body. A natural high - Six major hormones and chemicals associated with emotion • Dopamine This neurotransmitter feeds the reward pathway in the brain, and is involved in motivation, drive, pleasure and addiction. Abnormally high levels of dopamine are linked to loss of contact with reality, delusions and lack of emotion, while low levels have been associated with addictive behaviour and risk taking. • Noradrenaline Chemically related to adrenaline, this neurotransmitter is a stress hormone that co-ordinates the fight-or-flight response. It mediates many of the physical components of emotion, including raised heart rate, and also acts in the brain enhancing alertness, cognition and decision-making behaviour. • GABA Gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain – it decreases nerve transmission, allowing neurons time to recover. Increased GABA activity in the brain relieves anxiety and reduces stress. • Serotonin First recognised for its ability to constrict blood vessels, serotonin has become widely known as the "happiness hormone." Chemically known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), increasing the available serotonin level in the brain is the main target of the most commonly used antidepressants. • Beta-endorphin Endorphins are natural opioids, produced by the body in response to pain, excitement and even exercise. Beta-endorphin binds to the same mu receptors as the pain-relieving drug morphine. These receptors, present on nerves in the brain and spinal cord, modulate the activity of nerves, causing mild sedation, relieving pain and giving a sense of wellbeing. • Oxytocin Often described as the "bonding hormone", the "trust hormone", or sometimes even the "love hormone", oxytocin is unique to mammals. Although research is still in its infancy, oxytocin is thought to play an important role in human intimacy, childbirth, sexual arousal, trust and pair bonding. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is the subconscious arm of the peripheral nervous system, and controls bodily functions that are not under voluntary control, such as heart rate, digestion and sweating, and it is connected to the limbic system. The ANS has two distinct components with opposing functions. The sympathetic nervous system uses the neurotransmitters adrenaline and noradrenaline to prepare the body for "fight or flight", raising the heart rate and mobilising resources to fuel the muscles. The parasympathetic nervous system uses acetylcholine to allow the body to rest and digest, slowing the heart and breathing, and diverting the blood supply to the gut. Sensory feedback produced by the effects of the ANS contribute to many of the familiar feelings associated with emotions. Stimulation of the heart by adrenaline and noradrenaline as part of the fight-or-flight response produces the rapid palpitations associated with anger, fear and embarrassment. Its actions on the digestive system cause "butterflies in the stomach", and activity at the glands on the hands, feet and in the armpits, leads to nervous sweating. More passive emotions, like sadness or contentment, on the other hand, require little physical response, and the parasympathetic nervous system takes control of the heart, decreasing its rate. Feelings of contentment and relief are often accompanied by deep, slow breathing – another indicator of parasympathetic activity. The limbic system is also connected to the body via the hypothalamus. This small region, located on the underside of the brain, links the nervous system to the endocrine system – which produces hormones, some of which are key mediators of mood and emotion. For example, corticotropin-releasing hormone is produced in response to stress, and leads to the release of the stress-hormone cortisol from the adrenal glands above the kidneys. The regulation of emotion is not just restricted to one area of the brain – it involves almost the entire body. Reducing the bewildering complexity of human emotion down to anatomy, physiology, and ultimately, brain chemistry, might seem cold and clinical, but in reality, the fact that humans are capable of experiencing such an extraordinary range of abstract feelings is one of the greatest wonders of biology, with many chemical puzzles waiting to be solved. Jodie Tyley is the Editor of How It Works Magazine. Issue 79 out now, RRP £4.25. Follow the magazine on Twitter: @HowItWorksmag More about Psychology Brain Explainer Happiness Science Reuse content INDY/LIFE newsletter Be inspired with the latest lifestyle trends INDY/LIFE newsletter Be inspired with the latest lifestyle trends ____________________ Enter your email address (BUTTON) Continue (BUTTON) Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid Email cannot be used. Try another Register with your social account or click here to log in receiveindylifestyle [ ] I would like to receive the best features and trends across the world of lifestyle every week by email Update newsletter preferences Comments Share your thoughts and debate the big issues Learn more (BUTTON) {{value_p}} Independent Minds comments (BUTTON) {{value}} open comments Open Comments Join the discussion (BUTTON) Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. * You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully * Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable * Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties * We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. {{^nickname}} Create a commenting name to join the debate ____________________ (BUTTON) Submit Please try again, the name must be unique {{/nickname}} {{^nickname}} ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ {{/nickname}} {{#nickname}} ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ {{/nickname}} {{^nickname}} (BUTTON) Post {{/nickname}} {{#nickname}} (BUTTON) Post {{/nickname}} (BUTTON) Posting... * Newest first * Oldest first * Most liked * Least liked Loading comments... {{^comments}} There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts {{/comments}} {{#comments}} {{sender.name}} {{dateTime}} {{{commentText}}} Reply {{#sender.isSelf}} Delete {{/sender.isSelf}} {{posVotes}} {{negVotes}} {{#replies}} {{sender.name}} {{dateTime}} {{{commentText}}} Reply {{#sender.isSelf}} Delete {{/sender.isSelf}} {{posVotes}} {{negVotes}} {{#replies}} {{sender.name}} {{dateTime}} {{{commentText}}} {{#sender.isSelf}} Delete {{/sender.isSelf}} {{posVotes}} {{negVotes}} {{/replies}} {{/replies}} {{/comments}} {{#showMore}} (BUTTON) Load all comments {{/showMore}} Minds Comments Join the discussion (BUTTON) Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. Community Guidelines * You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully * Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable * Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties * We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. {{^nickname}} Create a commenting name to join the debate ____________________ (BUTTON) Submit Please try again, the name must be unique {{/nickname}} {{^nickname}} ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ {{/nickname}} {{#nickname}} ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ {{/nickname}} {{^nickname}} (BUTTON) Post {{/nickname}} {{#nickname}} (BUTTON) Post {{/nickname}} (BUTTON) Posting... * Newest first * Oldest first * Most liked * Least liked Loading comments... {{^comments}} There are no Independent Minds comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts {{/comments}} {{#comments}} {{sender.name}} {{dateTime}} {{{commentText}}} Reply {{#sender.isSelf}} Delete {{/sender.isSelf}} {{posVotes}} {{negVotes}} {{#replies}} {{sender.name}} {{dateTime}} {{{commentText}}} Reply {{#sender.isSelf}} Delete {{/sender.isSelf}} {{posVotes}} {{negVotes}} {{#replies}} {{sender.name}} {{dateTime}} {{{commentText}}} {{#sender.isSelf}} Delete {{/sender.isSelf}} {{posVotes}} {{negVotes}} {{/replies}} {{/replies}} {{/comments}} {{#showMore_p}} (BUTTON) Load all comments {{/showMore}} (BUTTON) Follow comments Enter your email to follow new comments on this article. ____________________ (BUTTON) Subscribe Thanks for subscribing! {{errorMessage}} (BUTTON) Vote Are you sure you want to submit this vote? (BUTTON) Submit vote (BUTTON) Cancel You must be logged in to vote. (BUTTON) Report Comment Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? (BUTTON) Flag comment (BUTTON) Cancel This comment has been flagged. This comment has been flagged. (BUTTON) Subscribe to Independent Minds to debate the big issues Want to discuss real-world problems, be involved in the most engaging discussions and hear from the journalists? Try Independent Minds free for 14 days. (BUTTON) Try for free Already registered? Log in (BUTTON) Report Comment Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? (BUTTON) Flag comment (BUTTON) Cancel This comment has been flagged. This comment has been flagged. (BUTTON) Delete Comment Are you sure you want to delete this comment? (BUTTON) Delete comment (BUTTON) Cancel Deleting comment... This comment has been deleted. This comment has been deleted. (BUTTON) Register to The Independent to comment Anyone can post in open comments. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. (BUTTON) Register Already registered? Log in Reply (BUTTON) ... {{^nickname}} Create a commenting name to join the debate ____________________ (BUTTON) Submit Please try again, the name must be unique {{/nickname}} {{^nickname}} ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ {{/nickname}} {{#nickname}} ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ {{/nickname}} {{^nickname}} (BUTTON) Post {{/nickname}} {{#nickname}} (BUTTON) Post {{/nickname}} (BUTTON) Cancel Comment posted! {{errorMessage}} Posting comment... (BUTTON) Subscribe to Independent Minds to debate the big issues Want to discuss real-world problems, be involved in the most engaging discussions and hear from the journalists? Try Independent Minds free for 14 days. (BUTTON) Try for free Already registered? Log in Reply (BUTTON) ... {{^nickname}} Create a commenting name to join the debate ____________________ (BUTTON) Submit Please try again, the name must be unique {{/nickname}} {{^nickname}} ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ {{/nickname}} {{#nickname}} ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ {{/nickname}} {{^nickname}} (BUTTON) Post {{/nickname}} {{#nickname}} (BUTTON) Post {{/nickname}} (BUTTON) Cancel Comment posted! {{errorMessage}} Posting comment... (BUTTON) About The Independent commenting Independent Minds Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Minds. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent minds. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment. The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Minds. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. (BUTTON) Try for free Already registered? Log in {{shortHeadline}} Most popular {{title}} Sponsored features {{title}} Popular videos {{title}} * Get in touch + Contact us + Jobs + Created with Sketch. Created with Sketch. * Our products + Subscriptions + Install our apps + Archive * Other publications + Evening Standard + Novaya Gazeta * Extras + All topics + Voucher codes + Advertising guide + Syndication * Legal + Code of conduct and complaints + Contributors + Cookie policy + Privacy notice + User policies