Happy hormones and their significance in animals and man

Abstract

Happiness is a state of the mind which depends on the complex interplay of chemicals in the brain. The feeling of happiness is related to release of certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. In this article, firstly we focus on how happy hormones relates to positive social behavior, pleasure, and stress tolerance, and second on which management factors stimulate release of such hormones. Consequently, assessments of good welfare are becoming increasingly important. Under these circumstances, affiliative behavior and positive social interaction have been used as good welfare indicators. In addition, dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, endorphin, cortisol and adrenaline which are considered as happy hormones have been used as indicators to evaluate good animal welfare.