Previously these brain areas have been associated with spirituality, bodily senses and recognising facial emotions.

Here, participants were shown Christmas-themed images and, in those participants who actively celebrated Christmas, there was increased brain activation in the sensory motor cortex, the premotor and primary motor cortex, and the parietal lobule. In fact, researchers at the University of Copenhagen conducted an imaging study to try and find the “centre” of the Christmas spirit in the human brain. So when people talk about “Christmas cheer” they may be on to something. Dopamine is known to be involved with reward-driven behaviour and pleasure seeking and serotonin is thought to increase our feelings of worth and belonging. The festive spirit: The joy surrounding Christmas may influence some of the chemicals in your brain ( dopamine and serotonin) which affect your happiness levels. Here are some of the main facets of the Christmas experience, and how they might affect your brain. But whether you love or hate Christmas it’s pretty difficult to avoid – and so your brain may be altered by the experience one way or another. Christmas can be both a time of stress and a time of relaxation. Christmas is a time of year like no other gifts are exchanged, little-spoken-to relatives are contacted, and appetising treats are consumed with great gusto.

Christmas tree create happiness