How Does Gratitude Work?
Gratitude has been proven to contribute to better mental and physical health, as you can read about in our free article: Can Gratitude Help Us Sleep Better? However, how does gratitude work? Read on to have a deeper understanding of the science behind gratitude, and how to get the best benefits from practicing gratitude.
The Science of Gratitude
We know that gratitude is a positive feeling, yet the details of why are unknown to many of us. However, neuroscientists have recently researched and discovered what happens to your brain when you feel gratitude. Below are a few of the findings.
Increased Dopamine and Serotonin: Happiness and Desire to Help Others
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in the functions of “pleasure, reward, motivation, attention, and bodily movements,” and serotonin is the “happiness chemical” that stabilizes our mood and helps us feel more relaxed. Research shows that after gratitude is expressed, the brain releases a surge of dopamine and increases serotonin production. This chemical production gives people a natural positive feeling that motivates them to keep expressing gratitude and even practice it more. Dopamine also increases the “experience and duration of positive emotions,” revealing that gratitude promotes acting for the greater good rather than only self-benefit (Lechner).
Increased Activity in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex: Learning and Decision-Making
The Medial Prefrontal Cortex is a part of the brain connected with learning and decision-making. In a study, one group thought of a time they felt grateful, while the second group said their gratitude aloud as if they were thanking someone. Scans of the two groups’ brains revealed much more activity in the medial prefrontal cortex in the subjects who expressed gratitude rather than those who simply remembered their appreciation. Thus, the benefits from the activity in the prefrontal cortex come from expressing gratitude rather than just feeling gratitude. This is significant because while about 90 percent of Americans feel gratitude to their families, only 48 percent express it regularly (Lechner). Normalizing and encouraging the expression of gratitude would reap societal benefits by helping countless individuals with their learning and decision-making abilities.
Activation of the Brain’s Reward System Regions: Thoughtfulness of Others’ Wellbeing
Gratitude stimulates the brain’s reward system; this means that after feeling gratitude, our brain desires the experience of giving. This was proven in a study in which one group wrote about their gratitude experiences and current feelings of appreciation, while the other group responded to prompts unrelated to gratitude. Researchers studied the resulting brain scans and concluded that “gratitude biases the brain’s reward system toward rewards for others versus oneself” (Lechner). This finding supports the research regarding dopamine by supporting the idea that gratitude focuses on giving and the greater good.
These scientific findings on gratitude have astounded scientists and give insight into why it is good for us and the world. As William Arthur Ward says, “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” Express your gratitude to spread your love and reap greater physical benefits, according to the science.
Today is International Gratitude Day and we’d like to begin this expression of gratitude, as we have much to be thankful for. The kindness, strength, and compassion you show every day make this world a kinder place, one action at a time. Thank YOU for everything you do.
To learn more about practicing gratitude and other important character strengths, subscribe to The Power of Kindness and keep an eye out for our next article. If you enjoyed this article, like and share to get more articles like this. Thank you for your support and for reading! And remember - even the smallest act of kindness is worthwhile.
Written By: Sonali Agarwal | Camp Kindness Counts Volunteer
Sources:
Lechner, Tamara. “The Neuroscience Behind Gratitude: How Does Cultivating Appreciation Affect Your Brain?” Chopra, Chopra, 1 Oct. 2020, chopra.com/articles/the-neuroscience-behind-gratitude-how-does-cultivating-appreciation-affect-your-brain.
Warren, Sarah. “The Science of Gratitude: How It Changes Your Brain and Body.” Somatic Movement Center, 21 Nov. 2019, somaticmovementcenter.com/gratitude/.