
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all… ~ Emily Dickinson
During these past couple of months of winter, with everything going on in the world, a lot of people started to feel that things would be dark and bleak for a very long time. That is why I thought it was the perfect time to remind everyone about hope. Definitions of hope include both a belief that things can be better in the future, and a sense that you have the power to make it so. The ability to take action towards the goal of making things better differentiates hope from blind optimism or wishful thinking. (see also blog post The Optimistic Brain from Jan 16, 2024)
Like other human cognitive processes, hope presumably happens in the brain but is difficult to measure, pinpoint and study, so there is little research and neuroscientific understanding of it. So far, there have been two neuroimaging studies assessing the structural and functional underpinnings of hope. One study using fMRI found that levels of hope were related to spontaneous brain activity in the bilateral prefrontal cortex (the anterior part of the frontal lobes). This brain region is typically involved in motivation and goal directed decision-making, which are key elements of hope. Another MRI study looked at regional gray matter volumes and hope. It found a positive correlation between hope and gray matter volume of the left supplementary motor area which is located in the frontal cortex, and is also involved in goal-directed behaviors. Based on these findings, hope seems to be associated with networks in the frontal cortex.

At the neurotransmitter level, little is known about hope. However, studies looking at optimism and positive thinking have largely implicated dopamine, which is important in reward processing, motivation, and the anticipation of positive outcomes. Given overlapping characteristics of hope and optimism, there is a high probability that dopamine contributes to the expression of hope.
Psychologists have extensively studied hope and find that having higher levels of hope are beneficial in many ways. People with high levels of hope consistently show better outcomes regarding mental health, physical health, academics and athletic achievements. Hopeful individuals experience reduced risk of all-cause mortality, fewer chronic illnesses and have lower cancer risk. They generally have more positive emotions, less depression and a stronger sense of purpose and meaning in life. They also form stronger relationships with others and experience less loneliness. A hopeful mindset is also tied to resilience and better coping ability in the face of significant acute or chronic stress. And if all those benefits are not inspiration enough to find reasons to be hopeful, try reading The Book of Hope by Jane Goodall.

Given all the possible benefits, it is fortunate that psychologists also tell us that hope can be learned and strengthened with practice, even in the darkest of times. A good starting point is to look forward to the future and remember that nothing lasts forever, and things will eventually change. Try to remember and be grateful for the good things that persist. It is helpful to work on things you can control – like your own negative thoughts and emotions. Being outdoors in nature, physical exertion and doing things you enjoy and find relaxing are quite useful. And, I find, it helps to maintain a sense of humor. Life is serious business, and you can’t always make things better, but you can always find something to laugh about while you hope for the best.
Give it a try. If enough of us resist the pull of fear, gloom and despair, and reach instead for hope, we shall see “…the winter of our discontent made glorious summer…” ~William Shakespeare.
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Post by: Nadia Fike
Read More: 1. Dasgupta, J et al. Hope for brain health: impacting the life course and society. Front Psychol. 2023 Jun 30;14: 1214014. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1214014 2. Lopez, S. J. (2013). Making hope happen: create the future you want for yourself and others. New York, Free Press. Chicago.
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