A new study claims that getting angry for half an hour every day is good for your brain.
Professor Eduardo Calixto Gonzalez of the National Autonomous University of Mexico in the central capital Mexico City claims that anger stimulates cardiovascular and breathing activity.
The neurobiologist said that having a temper tantrum for 30 or 40 minutes a day is good for us, but feeling irate for over four hours a day could have pathological consequences.
He said: “Anger is a reactionary process that the central nervous system uses to express, and people will not see any benefits if they fight against it.
“In fact, doing it properly will make us more competitive and that is a good thing.”
According to Gonzalez, anger releases the hormones noradrenaline and dopamine while decreasing levels of serotonin and vasopressin.
The neurochemical change reportedly helps our fight-or-flight responses.
Anger also increases our cortisol levels which is released in response to stress and makes us more alert.
Gonzalez also said that it is not a good thing to tell someone to calm down when they are angry as it usually infuriates the person more.
He said: “An angry brain wants to be right, and wants to hear that it is right.
“After 30 or 35 minutes, the emotion should be self-limiting. If it lasts longer, it means it is in the middle of a learning process.”
The expert said that younger people have stronger, more intense anger episodes while middle-aged persons can control their emotions quickly and be more selective over what upsets them.
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Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
