What Is Gratitude? A Neuroscientific Perspective
In positive psychology, gratitude is how we acknowledge the good things in life. It can be defined as a positive emotional response that we perceive while giving or receiving a benefit from someone (Emmons & McCullough, 2004).
Gratitude is more than just a positive feeling. It is a complex cognitive and emotional phenomenon that involves recognizing how other individuals contribute to our wellbeing and enhance our appreciation of positive outcomes in life.
From a neuroscientific perspective, gratitude activates key regions of the brain such as the prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex, the ventral striatum (a key brain region involved in processing rewards), and the insula (a region of the brain involved in emotional awareness; Fox et al., 2015).
Understanding the neuroscience of gratitude and how these areas of the brain regulate emotion, decision-making, and reward processing is an ongoing process. The neuroscience of gratitude is showing that it can impact relationships, resilience, and mental and physical health (Fox et al., 2015).
Essentially, when we experience gratitude, it changes physiological aspects of the brain that reside at the neurotransmitter level (Fox et al., 2015). These changes create feelings of happiness and contentment.
Researchers also hypothesize that gratitude is correlated with brain activity associated with moral cognition. When people are grateful, it activates reward circuits associated with social interaction and social cognitive processes (Fox et al., 2015).
Changes in the posteromedial and insular cortices, medial prefrontal cortex, and nucleus accumbens (a brain region central to the reward system) occur with these moral and social aspects of gratitude (Fox et al., 2015).
The Science of Gratitude: How It Changes the Brain
Science has shown that aspects of gratitude have specific effects on the brain. For example, one study found that making moral decisions about gratitude activated the right anterior superior temporal cortex (Zahn et al., 2008).
This part of the brain is responsible for emotion, autonomic function, memory, and reward-related functions.
Nervous system and emotional states
At a neurobiological level, gratitude regulates the sympathetic nervous system that activates our anxiety responses, and at the psychological level, it conditions the brain to filter the negative ruminations and focus on positive thoughts (Wong et al., 2018).
The limbic system is the part of the brain that is responsible for all emotional experiences. It consists of the thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, and cingulate gyrus. Studies have shown that the hippocampus and amygdala, the two main sites regulating emotions, memory, and bodily functioning, get activated with feelings of gratitude (Wong et al., 2018).
This part of the brain includes reward pathways and the hypothalamus, which can boost serotonin and activate the brain stem to produce dopamine, improving mood and making us feel good (Zahn et al., 2008).
Changes in the brain
Research examining specific areas of the brain found that individuals who experience higher levels of gratitude had increased gray matter volume (Zahn et al., 2014). Gray matter is where the brain processes sensation, voluntary movement, perception, speech, learning, and cognitive tasks.
Gratitude can change neural structures in the brain, making individuals feel happier and more content. Feeling grateful and appreciative triggers the “good” hormones and regulates effective functioning of the immune system (Zahn et al., 2008).
It is hypothesized that gratitude activates the reward center of the brain and can alter the way we see the world and ourselves (Fox et al. 2015).
Gratitude, the brain, and social connection
The correlation between oxytocin function and expressions of gratitude demonstrates the importance of gratitude in social bonding (Algoe & Way, 2014).
Brain activity and hormones are released when individuals report being grateful for wellbeing and when they hear stories about compassion for emotional pain (Algoe & Way, 2014).
Gratitude is a powerful human emotion.
The understanding of neuroscience and gratitude continues to evolve. It is evident that the emotion of gratitude has a direct relationship with the body and brain (Hazlett et al., 2021).
What our readers think
I love this article and practice gratefulness often. This article is a reminder that I should practice being grateful 24/7.
Great article, keep up the good work.
This article has been such a great resource for me when working with young adults.
Thank you for the additional information received that will assist in my Emotional Intelligence class and my Life Coaching. With Gratitude
Hello,
this post is so well written with all scientific information needed and pieces of advice. Is it possible to have it in pdf to be printed. I’m a GP and I’d love to give it to colleagues or patients.
Hi Marie-Eve,
Glad you found this post helpful. While we don’t currently have an option to download our posts, you are very welcome to share them with others. If you scroll to the end of the post and respond positively to the question ‘How useful was this article to you?’ several sharing options will become available to you.
Hope this helps!
Warm regards,
Julia | Community Manager
This article is an eye opening and very catchy also. We should know the impact, very vast and sky touching with a small practice of GRATITUDE. Thanking authors.