The Neurobiology Behind Disappointment: The Long-lasting Pain

The neurobiology behind disappointment shows once again that there are aspects of life that the brain experiences in a particularly painful way. This is why a person may suffer longer for an unknown reason when they miss an opportunity or when they lose confidence in someone.

Shakespeare used to say that expectations are the root of all heartache, and perhaps he is right. However, it is also true that you often need to hold on to certain things to find stability and not fall apart when life is uncertain. Therefore, it is very common to assume that your loved ones will never let you down in any way.

You may also have some expectations about yourself; You can assume that you will not fail in the things you usually do so well and think that everything you have today will still be there tomorrow. Sometimes, however, everything is turned upside down and your bubble bursts. When this happens, you lose some self-confidence and your brain interprets it as a warning sign of survival.

When you miss an opportunity you were so excited about, your boss fires you overnight, or a loved one betrays you, you obviously experience a painful situation. It is in a way a strike for everything that was a meaningful part of you. So, what happens in your brain when this happens?

The neurobiology behind disappointment

The neurobiology behind disappointment arises because of neuroscience’s recent interest in it. For many years, psychologists, psychiatrists and neurologists have wondered why disappointment is so painful. Of course, it is clear that disappointment is also part of each person’s personality.

Those who have been through it several times often become distrustful. Disappointment takes away a momentum from the hopes someone may have, and it makes a person more careful with their expectations of people. In any case, something must happen at the brain level for the effect of it to be so clear. Let’s see what science has to say about it.

Neurotransmitters and disappointment

Neurotransmitters are chemical substances that transmit signals to neurons. Thanks to this neurochemistry, you are able to feel, think and behave in certain ways. In fact, it is worth noting that very specific neurotransmitters completely control your mood, such as dopamine and serotonin.

An interesting study conducted by Dr. Roberto Malinow at the Department of Neuroscience at the UC San Diego School of Medicine showed that two specific neurotransmitters completely regulate disappointment. These are glutamate and GABA, which operate in the area of ​​the brain called the lateral habenula.

The lateral habenula and glutamate and GABA release

The lateral habenula is one of the oldest parts of the brain. This is how we know, for example, that it is part of the emotional processes that facilitate the decision. Despite the fact that it mainly works in a positive way by increasing motivation, this area also has a “dark side”.

For it to work properly, there must be a balanced and proper release of glutamate and GABA. The greater the neurotransmitter’s contribution to the habenula, the stronger the feeling of disappointment. On the contrary, the lower the release of GABA and glutamate, the lower the effect of this feeling on the brain.

Depression and the neurobiology behind disappointment

Dr. Roberto Malinowski pointed out something important on this subject. There is evidence that the effects of prolonged disappointment in many cases lead to depressive disorders. This means that when the brain intensively releases GABA and glutamate, there is a higher risk of suffering from this psychological disorder.

The excitation in the habenula caused by excessive release of the neurotransmitters also causes the patient to become obsessed with certain ideas, memories or previous painful experiences. It is more difficult to move on, and this is when emotional stagnation and suffering occur.

However, the discovery of the relationship between glutamate-GABA, disappointment and depression also opens up new treatments. Not so long ago, the common perception was that antidepressants and serotonin regulation helped to balance the GABA-glutamate ratio. However, it is now clear that although there is an improvement, it is still possible to experience several different side effects.

Therefore, the current challenge is to develop a treatment that works specifically on some neurotransmitters, and not on others. In this way, doctors can give correct answers to those patients who, due to several changes at a neurochemical level, experience some situations more intensely. As you may have seen, the neurobiology behind disappointment is a very interesting field.