HOW DOES ANGER HAPPEN IN THE BRAIN?
Ever wonder what automatic combination of neurological forces are at work when we become angry? With the goal of our dialogue being to figure out how to better deal with anger, let’s take a look at how anger happens inside of our brain.
The brain’s emotional center
The limbic system is the emotional center of the brain
The cerebral cortex (cortex) is the thinking part of the brain where logic and judgment reside. It is the outer portion of the brain and is divided into lobes. Think of the cortex as thestrategy center of the brain.
The emotional center of the brain is the limbic system. It is located lower in the brain and is considered to be more primitive than the cortex.
When someone is experiencing and expressing anger, he or she is not using the thinking (cortex) part of the brain, but primarily, the limbic center of the brain.
Have you encountered your amygdala today?
Within the limbic system is a small structure called the amygdala, a storehouse for emotional memories. It is also the area of the brain responsible for our “fight or flight” reactions, our natural survival instincts.
The data coming in from the world around us passes through the amygdala where the decision is made whether to send the data to the limbic or cortex area of the brain. If the incoming data triggers enough of an emotional charge, the amygdala can override the cortex, which means the data will be sent to the limbic system causing the person to react using the lower part of the brain.
An amgdala hijacking can feel like panic
During an overriding event, the amygdala goes into action without much regard for the consequences (since this area of the brain is not involved in judging, thinking, or evaluating). This reactive incident has come to be known as an amygdala hijacking.
Get ready for the hormones
When the amygdala is hijacked, a flood of hormones are released that cause physical and emotional alarm. A surge of energy follows, preparing the person for the fight or flight response. The impact of this hormonal flush last for several minutes during which time the person is usually out of control and may say or do things he or she will later regret, when the thinking part of the brain reengages.
Further, an additional longer-lasting hormone is released., and its impact can last for several hours to several days.
Why counting to 10 does not work
Having a long-lasting hormone in the body can explain why someone has an initial, powerful angry reaction, then seems to calm, but later has a huge flair-up that is disproportionate to the situation because of some small incident occuring while the hormone was active in the bloodstream.
On average, it can take 20 minutes for a person who has experienced an angry state of arousal to calm, to move from functioning from the emotional area to the thinking area of the brain.
A lot of stuff to digest
Perhaps we just may need to be aware that a lot goes on physiologically when we get angry.
What is important to know is:
- anger involves a trigger to the emotions that so easily charges us up that we “lose it, ” and
- it will often take about 20 minutes before we can once again become more logical.
Just knowing that could really help us as we deal with our anger or someone else’s. When we know someone is “amygdala hijacked,” then we should give him or her some time (over 20 minutes) before we attempt to resolve or discuss what happened because it takes about that long for hormonal releases to decrease in intensity.
So, if you stay with me for the next post, we will talk about how this knowledge can be used to prepare for, prevent and recover from these angry outbursts. For now, let’s just begin to observe how we see this in ourselves and others around us as we really begin to understand “this is your brain on anger!”
Gerry Vassar, President and CEO, Lakeside Educational Network
Some information taken from Understanding Anger, 2004, Diane Wagenhals.
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