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“Give It the Gas” nervous system. It is also the most addictive of all neurotransmitters.
Enkephalins and endorphins say, “I’m feeling no pain.” Like pain medication, they dull pain, reduce stress, and promote a floaty, tranquil calm. They are activated to counteract stress. They, too, can be addicting. They are released during pain, relaxation practices, vigorous exercise, and eating red hot chili peppers.
Serotonin says, “Not too much and not too little.” This “juice” helps to trigger sleep and affects mood, peace, and tranquillity. Yet it’s a puzzling neurotransmitter. You can’t be awake or concentrate without it, but too much and you feel tired and unfocused and may nod off. It’s the master impulse modulator. It inhibits aggression, depression, anxiety, and impulsivity while promoting calm. It is one of the main neurotransmitters used in antidepressants.
GABA says, “Chill out.” This is the most widespread inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Low GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and low serotonin are related to high aggression and violence. Levels of GABA drop when watching violence. It suppresses emotion and is often used to treat anxiety.
Glutamate says, “Let’s party.” Glutamate is the brain’s major “jolt juice.” Quick and clear thinking are impossible without it. If too much is constantly released, it causes the brain to burn itself out, as we see in users of methamphetamine or cocaine. It is vital for forging links between neurons for learning and long-term memory.
Norepinephrine says, “Better safe than sorry!” It’s the alarm bell. It recognizes danger and organizes the brain to respond to it by releasing adrenaline. Adrenaline is related to tension, excitement, and energy. It is released by the “Give It the Gas” nervous system. It increases physical and mental arousal, heightens mood and vigilance, and enhances readiness to act.
    LONGER INTROVERT ACETYLCHOLINE PATHWAY

1. Reticular Activating System —Activator: Acetylcholine activates the Front Attention System; signals “Something is interesting.”
2. Hypothalamus —Master Regulator: Regulates basic body functions and turns on the braking side of the nervous system.
3. Front Thalamus —Relay Station: Receives external stimuli, reduces it, and shuttles it to the front of the brain.
4. Right Front Insular —Integrator: Combines emotional skills such as empathy and self-reflection; assigns emotional meaning, notices errors and makes decisions. Integrates slower “what” or “why” visual and auditory pathways.
5. Left-Mid Cingulate —Social Secretary: Prioritizes, grants entry into CEO area; attends to the internal world. Emotions trigger the autonomic nervous system.
6. Broca’s Area —Left Lobe: Plans speech and activates self-talk.
7. Right and Left Front Lobes —CEO Processors: Acetylcholine creates beta waves and “hap hits” during high brain activity. Selects, plans, and chooses ideas or actions. Develops expectations. Evaluates outcomes.
8. Left Hippocampus —Consolidator: Acetylcholine collects, stamps as personal, stores long-term memories.
9. Amygdala —Threat System: Attends to threats with fear, anxiety, and anger. Signals social panic and triggers storage of negative experiences.
10. Right Front Temporal Lobe —Processor: Integrates short-term memory, emotions, sensory input, and learning. Triggers voluntary muscles.
    SHORTER EXTROVERT DOPAMINE PATHWAY

1. Reticular Activating System —Activator: Dopamine activates alert alpha brain waves, “hap hits,” and triggers the Back Attention System which notices any movement.
2. Hypothalamus —Master Regulator: Regulates basic body functions and triggers the “Give It the Gas” system.
3. Right and Left Back Thalamus —Relay Station: Increases and relays external sensory input to higher association areas.
4. Right Back Insular —Integrator: Integrates several regions of the brain including the “where” and “when” visual, and