Singing promotes bliss, joy and happiness Scientific studies have shown that this is due to the release of a neurohormone called anandamide in the brain.

1. THE UNKNOWN SECRETS OF SINGING:
BLISS, JOY & HAPPINESS,
REVEALED BY SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE
By
Kevin KF Ng, MD, PhD.
Former Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Clinical Pharmacology
University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
Email: kevinng68@gmail.com
A Slide Presentation for HealthCare Providers April 2021

2. Story of a Happy Pill from a Medical Doctor
▪ I came across many patients who asked me for a “Happy Pill”.
▪ They did not refer to illicit drugs such as cocaine, marihuana
or narcotics.
▪ These patients were normal healthy subjects.
▪ They had no family history of mental illness.
▪ Routine physical examination and laboratory tests were
normal.
▪ I explained to them that happiness is a state of well-being
determined by the neurochemicals in the brain.
▪ Anandamide, the “molecule of bliss, joy and happiness”, was
discovered in 1992.
▪ It is now known that Anandamide is released into the body by
singing, reading, running and cycling

3. Where and when do people sing?
▪ Bathroom
▪ Church services
▪ Birthday parties
▪ Wedding ceremony
▪ Funeral ceremony
▪ Concerts
▪ National games
▪ Olympics games

4. Link between singing and “happy molecules”
▪ Happiness and sadness are modulated by neurochemicals in the brain
▪ The chemicals known to give rise to happiness are:
▪ Amines:
▪ Serotonin: molecule involved in mood
▪ Dopamine: molecule involved in pleasure
▪ Peptides:
▪ Oxytocin: molecule involved in love-making
▪ Endorphins: molecule that relieves stress and pain
▪ Endocannabinoid:
▪ Anandamide: molecule of “bliss, joy and happiness”

5. What is anandamide (AEA)?
▪ Anandamide (AEA) is a neurotransmitter of the
endocannabinoid system
▪ Another name for anandamide:
▪ N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA)
▪ Molecular weight 347.53 g/mol
▪ The name is taken from the Sanskrit word ananda,
which means "joy, bliss, happiness", and amide.
▪ It is a fatty acid neurotransmitter derived from
arachidonic acid, an essential omega-6 fatty acid.
▪ Anandamide (AEA) is synthesized in the brain and its
effects are mediated via CB1, CB2 and TRPV1 receptors.
▪ It modulates the release of diverse neurotransmitters in
the brain
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165614705002725

6. What is the endocannabinoid system?
Components of Endocannabinoid system
https://greathemp.net/endocannabinoid-system-guide/

7. Distribution of endocannabinoids (AEA and 2-Ag) in the brain
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2931546/

8. Modulation of release of Neurotransmitters by Anandamide:
Neurotransmitter could be excitatory glutamate or inhibitory GABA
https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/blog-what-is-thc-n70
https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-physiology/what-are-neurotransmitters

9. Fate: Enzymes involved in the synthesis and degradation of
endocannabinoids: AEA & 2-AG
.
• NAT indicates arylamine N-acetyltransferase;
• NAPE-PLD, N-arachidonyl-
phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase- D;
• FAAH, fatty acid amide hydrolase;
• COX, cyclooxygenase;
• MAGL, monoacylglycerol lipase;
• 2-AG, 2-arachidonoyl glycerol;
• DAGL, diacylglycerol-lipase;
• AA, arachidonic acid.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24819878/

10. Overview of Functions of the Endocannabinoid System

11. Activities that release anandamide for happiness

12. Evidence that Exercise activates the endocannabinoid system
to release (AEA) anandamide (2003)
DOI: 10.1097/01.wnr.0000097048.56589.47

13. Evidence of Percentage increase in plasma AEA (n=6 female)
resulting from
Singing, Dancing, Cycling and Reading after 30 min (2018)
Adapted from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6275239/
https://www.wikihow.com/Sing-Emotionally

14. How long does anandamide last in the body?
▪ Anandamide is a local
hormone.
▪ It is synthesized, released
and metabolized rapidly.
▪ Its half-life is likely to be
seconds or minutes.
https://bedrocan.com/our-endocannabinoid-system-explained/

15. Summary
▪ Singing promotes bliss, joy and happiness.
▪ Happiness is a state of well-being manifested with joy.
▪ Joy is associated with the release of neurochemicals in
the brain.
▪ Serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphins are
known to be associated with happiness.
▪ Anandamide discovered in 1992 is a new molecule
added to the complexity of happiness.
▪ Anandamide is released by singing, reading, running and
cycling that give rise to the “bliss, joy and happiness”
http://clipart-library.com/clipart/762432.htm