When it comes to optimizing our health, particularly our mental well-being, we often look to diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. However, one critical piece of the puzzle that’s often overlooked is the biochemistry of our brain. Neurotransmitters—chemical messengers that play a vital role in mood, behavior, and overall cognitive function—are central to how we feel and function day-to-day. One of the most effective ways to understand your brain chemistry is through a test called the Braverman Test.

In this post, we’ll explore what the Braverman Test is, why it’s so special, how it can guide your nutritional and supplement choices, and how understanding the results can be an incredibly powerful tool for improving your mental and physical health. Additionally, we'll dive into how imbalances in key neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA can cause symptoms that may be confusing without the proper context, and how supplementing or balancing these neurotransmitters can make a profound difference.

What is the Braverman Test?

The Braverman Test is a scientifically designed personality and biochemical assessment that measures how well your brain chemistry is functioning. Developed by Dr. Eric Braverman, this test is rooted in the dopamine, serotonin, GABA, and acetylcholine systems—four key neurotransmitters that influence mood, cognitive abilities, motivation, and stress responses.

What sets the Braverman Test apart from other assessments is its focus not just on mental health but on how imbalances in neurotransmitters can manifest in both physical and psychological symptoms. It helps us identify which neurotransmitters may be in excess or deficient, allowing us to gain insight into the underlying causes of symptoms like anxiety, depression, fatigue, and brain fog.

This test uses a combination of questions related to personality, energy levels, emotional tendencies, and overall well-being to analyze your neurotransmitter balance. Based on your answers, it assigns scores to each neurotransmitter and offers suggestions on how to bring your brain chemistry into balance.

Why is the Braverman Test Special?

1. A Holistic Approach to Mental Health:The Braverman Test stands out because it focuses on neurotransmitter function as the root cause of many mental and physical health conditions. Rather than simply diagnosing symptoms like anxiety or depression, it allows us to see the underlying biochemical imbalances that may be driving those symptoms. This means that rather than just managing symptoms, we can work on correcting imbalances at the source—leading to long-term improvement in mental clarity, mood, and overall well-being.

   
   

2. Personalized Insights:The test is personalized to each individual, helping to identify unique patterns of brain chemistry. Instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment, the Braverman Test provides a customized roadmap for addressing neurotransmitter imbalances through diet, lifestyle changes, and targeted supplementation.

   
   

3. Identifying the Root Cause of Symptoms:Many people suffer from symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, irritability, and low motivation, but struggle to figure out the exact cause. The Braverman Test helps reveal whether the issue is related to an imbalance in one of the key neurotransmitters, providing actionable insights for treatment and management. For example, a person who feels constantly anxious, wired, and overwhelmed might find that their serotonin and GABA levels are low, while someone who feels dull, unmotivated, or “stuck” might have a deficiency in dopamine.

How Can the Braverman Test Guide Nutritional and Supplementation Choices?

Understanding your brain chemistry can help guide nutritional and supplement choices in a way that supports your unique needs. Depending on which neurotransmitters are out of balance, the Braverman Test can give you clear recommendations for dietary adjustments, specific supplements, and lifestyle changes that can help restore balance to your brain chemistry.

1. For Low Serotonin:Serotonin is often referred to as the "feel-good" neurotransmitter because of its role in regulating mood, appetite, and sleep. Low serotonin levels are associated with symptoms like depression, anxiety, insomnia, and low appetite.

   • Nutritional Support: Foods rich in tryptophan (the precursor to serotonin) can help boost levels. This includes foods like turkey, eggs, dairy, nuts, and seeds.

   • Supplements: 5-HTP, St. John's Wort, and L-tryptophan are commonly recommended for supporting serotonin production.

   • Lifestyle: Exposure to natural sunlight, regular exercise, and mindfulness practices like meditation can also help boost serotonin levels.

   
   

2. For Low GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid):GABA is the brain's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter and plays a key role in calming the nervous system. Low levels of GABA are linked to anxiety, insomnia, overactive thoughts, and restlessness.

   • Nutritional Support: Foods that help support GABA production include those high in magnesium (leafy greens, nuts, seeds) and B-vitamins (especially B6).

   • Supplements: GABA, L-theanine, valerian root, and passionflower are often used to enhance GABA activity and promote relaxation.

   • Lifestyle: Yoga, deep breathing exercises, and mindfulness meditation are known to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and boost GABA levels.

   
   

3. For Low Dopamine:Dopamine is the "motivational" neurotransmitter, closely linked to focus, pleasure, and reward. Low dopamine levels can result in lack of motivation, low energy, brain fog, and difficulty feeling pleasure.

   • Nutritional Support: Foods high in tyrosine (the precursor to dopamine) like lean meats, fish, eggs, and soy products are recommended.

   • Supplements: L-tyrosine, mucuna pruriens, and Rhodiola can support dopamine production and improve focus and motivation.

   • Lifestyle: Exercise, especially strength training and high-intensity interval training (HIIT), is one of the best ways to naturally boost dopamine.

Understanding the Complex Relationship Between GABA and Serotonin: Excess and Deficiency

One of the most powerful insights the Braverman Test provides is that neurotransmitter imbalances don’t always present in isolation. For example, excess serotonin or GABA can result in a host of symptoms that may not be immediately obvious.

Excess Serotonin or GABA: What Does That Feel Like?

• Excess Serotonin:When serotonin levels are too high, it can lead to feelings of drowsiness, emotional numbness, and lack of motivation. People may experience physical fatigue despite getting adequate rest, and there may be a sense of emotional detachment. High serotonin levels are also linked to certain symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as shivering, rapid heart rate, and hyperreflexia (overactive reflexes).

• Excess GABA:On the other hand, an excess of GABA can cause extreme relaxation or even sedation, making it difficult to feel motivated or alert. Excess GABA might lead to feelings of dullness, sluggishness, or even depression as the body and mind are overly "calmed" by the inhibitory action of GABA. People might feel disconnected or emotionally flat.

The Complicated Role of GABA Deficiency

Interestingly, GABA deficiency can create a situation where your body may struggle to maintain a stable level of neurotransmitter release. The lack of GABA means that inhibitory control over other neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate is diminished, which can lead to uncontrolled surges of these chemicals.

This results in the paradoxical situation where someone might experience symptoms of both excess and deficiency at the same time. For example, someone with low GABA might feel anxious, restless, and overwhelmed (as the brain lacks the calming effect of GABA), yet also experience episodes of dullness, emotional numbness, or fatigue (as unregulated serotonin or dopamine may spike without the balancing effect of GABA). This duality can make it difficult to pinpoint exactly what’s wrong, but the Braverman Test helps clarify the neurotransmitter imbalances responsible for these confusing symptoms.

How Understanding This Can Be Life-Changing

By using the Braverman Test to identify neurotransmitter imbalances, you can take targeted action with specific supplements, dietary changes, and lifestyle modifications to bring your brain chemistry back into balance. This approach offers a more personalized, scientifically grounded solution than simply guessing or relying on trial-and-error.

For example, if your test reveals that you have low GABA and excess serotonin, you might focus on GABA-promoting supplements (like L-theanine or GABA itself) while cutting back on serotonin-boosting foods or supplements. You may also incorporate relaxation techniques that are specifically designed to increase GABA activity while reducing serotonin dominance.

The results can be profound: reduced anxiety, improved sleep, better focus, and greater emotional balance—all because you understand your neurotransmitter balance at a deeper Take Control of Your Brain Chemistry Today

Understanding your unique neurotransmitter balance can be the key to unlocking better mental and physical health. If you’ve been struggling with mood swings, low energy, anxiety, or other symptoms and feel like you’re just guessing at what might work, the Braverman Test can provide the clarity you need to make informed decisions about your health.

Ready to dive deeper? Schedule a consultation today to get your personalized Braverman Test and start your journey toward better brain health and overall well-being. Armed with the right information, we can guide you on how to use nutrition, supplements, and lifestyle changes to bring your neurotransmitters into balance and get you feeling your best.