Link: Myths about Introverts

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Just in case someone hasn't seen it and related to this:

Gale, speculated that introverts might engage in a running monologue in the absence of external stimulation. The observed increased blood flow in Broca's area in introverts might be interpreted as biological evidence of"self-talk."The introverts’ pathway is...focused internally; blood flows to the parts of the brain involved with internal experiences such as remembering, solving problems, and planning—a long, complex pathway. This may explain the tendency of introverts to experience what is known as l’esprit de l’escalier (stairway wit)—the frustrating experience of thinking of a clever comeback when it’s too late. The witty remark comes to mind much too tardily to be useful, when one is on the “staircase,” so to speak, leaving the scene. It’s probably why a lot of introverts are writers. They have all the time they need to come up with what they want to say—especially witty comebacks.

In addition to differences in brain pathways accessed, extroverts have a low sensitivity to dopamine—often known as one of the “feel good” neurotransmitters—yet they require large amounts of it. Adrenaline is needed to make more dopamine in the brain; so the more active the extrovert is, the more adrenaline is released and the more dopamine is produced. Dopamine is correlated with movement, attention, alert states, and learning.

Introverts, however, are highly sensitive to dopamine. If their bodies produce too much of it, they feel over-stimulated. An introvert’s dominant pathway uses acetylcholine, which plays a large part in our sleep and dream states. This difference in neurotransmitter sensitivity and production goes so far as to favor which basic parts of our systems are activated: Whereas extroverts are linked to the dopamine/adrenaline, energy-spending, flight-or-fight sympathetic nervous system, introverts are associated with the acetylcholine, energy-conserving, parasympathetic nervous system that relaxes and calms the body. In The Introvert Advantage, Laney has included a fascinating set of diagrams that map the pathways used in the introverted brain vs. the extroverted brain. Laney also describes some quirks of temperament that extroverts might find mystifying or annoying: Introverts may appear glazed or dazed when they’re stressed out, tired, or in groups. They may start talking in the middle of a thought. Introverts have a good memory but they can take a long time to retrieve memories. They can also experience a temporary inability to access things they know quite well, fumbling around to explain a task they perform all the time or forgetting a word they want to use. They might think they told you something when they have only thought it. And they may be slow to react under stress.

http://www.keswickhousepublishers.com/K ... 2C6AA.html

Introverts, however, are highly sensitive to dopamine. If their bodies produce too much of it, they feel over-stimulated. An introvert’s dominant pathway uses acetylcholine, which plays a large part in our sleep and dream states. This difference in neurotransmitter sensitivity and production goes so far as to favor which basic parts of our systems are activated: Whereas extroverts are linked to the dopamine/adrenaline, energy-spending, flight-or-fight sympathetic nervous system, introverts are associated with the acetylcholine, energy-conserving, parasympathetic nervous system that relaxes and calms the body. In The Introvert Advantage, Laney has included a fascinating set of diagrams that map the pathways used in the introverted brain vs. the extroverted brain. Laney also describes some quirks of temperament that extroverts might find mystifying or annoying: Introverts may appear glazed or dazed when they’re stressed out, tired, or in groups. They may start talking in the middle of a thought. Introverts have a good memory but they can take a long time to retrieve memories. They can also experience a temporary inability to access things they know quite well, fumbling around to explain a task they perform all the time or forgetting a word they want to use. They might think they told you something when they have only thought it. And they may be slow to react under stress.

http://www.keswickhousepublishers.com/K ... 2C6AA.html

Exercise helped keep it all in order for me; increasing dopamine, serotonin, epinephrine, oxytocin, and natural endorphins; while burning off stress hormones. I think it is nature's own natural reward, that kept us moving thousands of years in the search for food. I would imagine a more sedentary way of life, impacts our biological inclinations.

. . Actually I don't even find "parties" stimulating. I find "mingling" with random people tedious and draining at best. Also, I do enjoy actually DOING things with other people. I just don't enjoy standing around in a crowded room talking and sipping wine / beer. THAT is what I call boring and under-stimulating. Unless you want to count stress and anxiety as stimulation.

A morning walk often works for me, although I'm not really sure whether it's the exercise itself, the morning sunshine, or just the fact that I'm just getting out of the house early.

I do want to add the rejoinder that the biochem of the brain is just so complicated that what works for one person might not work for another, or perhaps even the same person at different times. This is clearly the case for medications (such as antidepressants), but I think it's also the case for other things such as diet and exercise.

So, I think it's feel and texture, taking a medium step. Seeing how it goes and then taking another medium step, maybe in the same direction, maybe off to the side (I know this might seem patently obvious, but it actually took me a long time to figure it out).

I read that lecithin ( phosphatidylcholine) also works for symptoms of autism . I think it would be worth a try. I take it, and does everything as cited . It's inexpensive enough to experiment.

I've decided to try lecithin. Using the Jamieson brand 1,200 mg. I'm skeptical but it seems safe enough to experiment for 3 months. I'm starting at 1 capsule twice daily.