The Tree of Life

Basal Ganglia (Anxiety Here)

  • L (Left Side): Language, Verbally Anxious, Homicidal Thinking.

  • R (Right Side): Internal Anxiety, Suicidal Thinking, Self Mutilation.

  • Function: Brain’s Idle, Stay in the Moment.

  • Dysfunction: Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Pessimism, Conflict Avoidance, Tense Neck/Shoulders, Tremors.

  • Primary Neurotransmitter: GABA

Thalamic/Limbic (Depression Here)

  • Function: Emotional Filter, Colors Experiences, Tags Interior Importance, Charged Emotions, Libido, Smell, Appetite, Sleep Cycles.

  • Dysfunction: Depression, Appetite/Sleep Problems, Decreased Sex Drive, Social Isolation, Increased Negative Thinking.

  • Primary Neurotransmitter: Serotonin

Pre Frontal Cortex (ADD Here)

  • Function: Attention, Judgement, Impulse Control, Critical Thinking, Empathy, Emotional Awareness, Grows until age 25.

  • Dysfunction: Distractibility, Impulsivity, Poor Judgement, Lazy, Tardy, Lack of Forethought, Hyperactivity, Procrastination, Writer’s Block.

  • Primary Neurotransmitters: Dopamine, Epinephrine, Norepinephrine.

Anterior Cingulate (OCD & ODD Here)

  • Function: Gear Shifter, Cognitive Flexibility, Adaptability, Seeing Options, Move From One Idea to the Next, Go with the Flow, Cooperative.

  • Dysfunction: Stubborn, Holds Grudges, Obsessions/Compulsions, Addictions, PMS, Road Rage, Oppositional, Argumentative.

  • Primary Neurotransmitter: Serotonin

Temporal Lobe (Floor of the Brain)

  • Function (Left): Process Language, Short Term Memory, Long Term Memory, Auditory Learning, Complex Memories.

  • Function (Right): Facial Recognition, Decoding Vocal Inflections.

  • Dysfunction (Left): Aggression, Fighting, Sensitive to Slights, Difficulty Finding Words, Auditory Processing Problems.

  • Dysfunction (Right): Difficulty with Faces, Trouble Decoding Voices, Social Skill Trouble.

Neurotransmitter Scales Secondary Title

Excitatory Neurotransmitters
Epinephrine Fatigue, Lower Focus, Weight Gain Sleep Trouble, Anxiety, Tremor, HTN
Norepinephrine Low Energy, Low Focus, Low Motivation, Low Mood Anxiety, Irritability, "Cut in Line," Too Much Caffeine, Tremor
Dopamine Anhedonism, Lack of Joy Reward, Psychosis, Cell Death, Cravings, Developmental Delay, PDD, Poor Intestinal Function
Glutamate - Cell Death, Brain Damage (Permanent?), Seizures
PEA Low Focus, Low Attention, ADD Sleep Difficulty, Mind Running, Anxiety

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters
Serotonin Anxiety, Insomnia, Depression, Uncontrolled Appetite, Headaches, Unexplained GI Sx Road Rage, Hot Flashes, Serotonin Syndrome, Irritability
5-HIAA Same as above, Urges, Impulsivity Intestinal complaints
Taurine Arrhythmias, Panic Attacks, Cynicism, Pessimism Insomnia, Hyperactivity

GABA Pathways

  • Pathway A (Fast On - Fast Off): Alcohol, Benzodiazepines, Xanax, Klonopin. (Addictive Quality).

  • Pathway B (Stays on Longer): Kavinace (Phenylated GABA). Mimics Natural GABA, Non-Addictive.

  • Center Result: Calm, Able to Sleep.

  • Bottom Result (Low GABA): Anxiety, Insomnia, Tremors.

Genetic Variant Nutritional Assessment (Document Summary)

  • Pathway A (Fast On - Fast Off): Alcohol, Benzodiazepines, Xanax, Klonopin. (Addictive Quality).

  • Pathway B (Stays on Longer): Kavinace (Phenylated GABA). Mimics Natural GABA, Non-Addictive.

  • Center Result: Calm, Able to Sleep.

  • Bottom Result (Low GABA): Anxiety, Insomnia, Tremors.