The brain has several different types of neurotransmitters essential for regulating activities such as moods, behavior, sleep and learning abilities. One of these neurotransmitters, serotonin, is created in portions of the brain known as the pons, midbrain and medulla and has a large effect on mood and behavior. Children who have low levels of serotonin in their brains may develop negative behaviors, some of which can cause obvious symptoms that can interfere with quality of life.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is an illness typified by fixation on certain thoughts and behaviors. OCD can begin during childhood and stay with a child through the teen years and well into adulthood. It is caused by an imbalance in serotonin in the brain, in that serotonin levels become obstructed; the brain then responds by creating messages that lead the person to believe he is at risk. As a result, a child can develop obsessions, such as fear of germs or having to check that a light is off. These lead to compulsive behaviors, such as hand washing or repeatedly touching a light switch. Treatment often involves learning to resist compulsive behaviors in order to reorganize the brain and teach it to react differently.
SIDS
Sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, occurs as an unknown cause of death among babies less than 1 year of age. Death typically occurs when the baby is sleeping or entering one of the various stages of sleep. In a study in the February 2010 issue of "The Journal of the American Medical Association," researchers linked low levels of serotonin with babies who died from SIDS. The babies studied had low levels of serotonin receptors in parts of the brain that control breathing and automatic functions. Low levels of serotonin do not respond adequately to wake the baby if breathing becomes disrupted or oxygen levels fall too low while sleeping.
Anxiety
Children with low levels of serotonin in the brain may develop anxiety disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by worry, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, irritability and restlessness. According to Macalester College, serotonin is responsible for adjusting anxiety levels as well as impulsiveness. Depending on the level of anxiety and its effects on a child's ability to learn and function in society, prescription medications may be warranted to normalize serotonin levels in the brain.
Aggression
Low levels of serotonin may be associated with an increase in aggression. Children with low levels of serotonin in the brain may show an increase in anger, violence and impulsivity. Although low serotonin levels can have an impact on mood, children exposed to violence, as well as those treated harshly through discipline methods, may be more likely to develop aggressive tendencies, according to an article in Columbia University's "21stC."
References
- "The Journal of the American Medical Association"; Brainstem Serotonergic Deficiency in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome; Jhodie R. Duncan, Ph.D., et al.; February 2010
- Macalester College Department of Psychology; MDMA: Serotonin; Peter Burkill, et al.
- TeensHealth: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- The Undergraduate Behavioral Neuroscience Resource Project at Macalester College: Serotonin in Anxiety
- "21stC" at Columbia University; Violence as a Biomedical Problem: Natural Born Killers?; Linda Carroll
