HOW ANGER AFFECTS YOUR

BRAIN AND BODY: PART 11

HOW ANGER MOVES THROUGH YOUR BRAIN AND INTO YOUR BODY
1 The first spark of anger activates the amygdala before you’re even aware of it.

SOURCES OF ANGER
DISAPPOINTMENT
FRUSTRATION
JUDGMENT
REJECTION
FEAR

AMYGDALA

Now the amygdala is ready to turn on the stress response system in your brain and body.
Scientists named this stress response system the “HPA axis” because it consists
of the Hypothalamus, the Pituitary gland, and the Adrenal glands.
In this system, a chain reaction of hormones prepares your body to respond
to stressors like anger.
Here is how it works:
The hypothalamus
The amygdala signals the pituitary gland
signals by discharging
the hypothalamus. CRH (corticotrpin-releasing hormone).

2 3

CRH PITUITARY
GLAND

ACTH
AMYGDALA HYPOTHALAMUS

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ACTH
© 2018 The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine
 HOW ANGER AFFECTS YOUR
BRAIN AND BODY: PART 11
HOW ANGER MOVES THROUGH YOUR BRAIN AND INTO YOUR BODY

2 3

CRH
PITUITARY
GLAND
ACTH
AMYGDALA HYPOTHALAMUS

ADRENAL 4
GLANDS

ACTH
The pituitary gland
signals the adrenal glands
by releasing
ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone).
KIDNEYS

5 The adrenal glands secrete stress hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and
noradrenaline.
STRESS HORMONES
ADRENAL
GLANDS

KIDNEYS NOR-
CORTISOL ADRENALINE ADRENALINE

When these hormones are produced, they quickly impact your neurons and cells.
This is important because that impact usually isn’t a helpful one.
Coming soon: How Anger Affects Your Brain and Body, Part 2 – Looking closer
into what the stress hormones are up to.

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© 2018 The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine