Ads and How They Affect Our Nervous System

ASPCA, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, has a commercial advertisement that is often aired on television and is one that always tugs at my heartstrings. Because I have owned dogs my entire life, I have a soft place in my heart for dogs and all animals, really. This advertisement asks for help in one of the following ways: donating, adopting, or taking action by reporting animal cruelty, sharing our story, or volunteering. Due to the emotion expressed to this ad and the ties of owning animals, this ad activates my limbic system, which is located deep within the middle of the brain. It is a source of emotion and is a storehouse for long-term memories, particularly with strong emotional components. The part of the limbic system that is responsible for these long-term memories is called the hippocampus. Now, how do I decide if I want to donate or help this organization? This comes from the pre-frontal cortex (PFC) located within the frontal lobe of the brain. The PFC is responsible for planning, decision-making, problem solving and executive function. The PFC takes the sensory and emotional information and then uses that information to plan and execute decisions and actions. After donating, you typically get a response from the organization saying how much your donation will help make a difference. This gives you a "high" sensation and sense of reward and accomplishment. The amygdala, which is also a part of the limbic system, not only aides in emotion and memory, but is also a critical component of the brain's reward system and can be tied to addiction. In addition to the amygdala, the neurotransmitter dopamine plays a role in satisfaction and reward function. It is the "feel good" neurotransmitter, which is what we should feel after helping the animals of ASPCA.

Link to ASPCA ad video: https://ispot.tv/a/ZPC3