Overloaded

Many of the chemicals that allow our brains to function have become household names. These chemicals are the hormones and neurotransmitters that run our brain. They affect all aspects of our lives, from what we remember, how we make decisions, and who we love to basic survival drives such as hunger, fear, and sleep.

In Overloaded, author Ginny Smith explores how these tiny molecules run our lives in ways we don’t even realise. She answers questions such as:

• Is dopamine to blame for compulsive behaviours?
• What role do cortisol and adrenaline play in memory formation?
• Do ‘smart drugs’ exist? And should we be using them?
• Is it our brain chemicals that cause us to be ‘hangry’?
• How do hormones and neurotransmitters affect the trajectory of our romantic relationships?

Beginning with background on the workings of the brain and nervous system, Overloaded delves into a range of key topics: mood, personality, motivation and addiction, memory and learning, hunger, sleep, decision-making, love, ageing, and health. The narrative follows Ginny’s journey of discovery as she meets the scientists at the cutting-edge of research into the world of neurotransmitters.

Overloaded examines the roles that neurotransmitters and hormones play in each aspect of our lives and highlights the science that is starting to uncover unexpected connections between these crucial chemicals. For example, scientists have understood the role that leptin plays in appetite for a while but are now discovering that it also has a key role in memory and learning. Ginny Smith uncovers the importance of these molecules and how much we still have to learn about them.

This mind-bending, eye-opening book provides readers with an enjoyable route through the remarkable world of neurotransmitters, the chemicals inside each of us that touch every aspect of our lives.