Abstract

PHARMACOLOGY OF HUMAN EMOTIONS: NEUROCHEMICAL BASIS, DRUG INTERVENTIONS, AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

*Miss. Gayatri Waghmare, Dr. Karishma A. Nikose, Prof. Suraj P. Rajurkar

Abstract

Human emotions are fundamental psychological processes that influence cognition, behavior, motivation, and social interaction. Advances in neuroscience have established that emotions arise from coordinated neurochemical signaling within specific brain circuits. Dysregulation of these neurochemical systems contributes to a wide range of psychiatric and neurological disorders. The pharmacology of human emotions focuses on understanding how neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and hormones regulate emotional states and how pharmacological agents can restore emotional balance. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the neurochemical basis of emotions, highlighting the roles of monoamines, amino acid neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and stress hormones. It further examines major pharmacological interventions used to modulate emotional dysfunction, including antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and emerging therapies such as glutamatergic modulators, oxytocin-based treatments, and psychedelic-assisted therapy. Clinical implications in mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive–compulsive disorder are discussed. Finally, future directions including personalized medicine, pharmacogenomics, artificial intelligence, and ethical considerations in emotional pharmacotherapy are explored. This review aims to bridge basic neurochemical mechanisms with clinical applications, offering an updated perspective on emotional pharmacology.

Keywords: Human emotions; Neurotransmitters; Psychopharmacology; Dopamine; Serotonin; Antidepressants; Emotional regulation.