Cold exposure triggers a release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, cortisol, dopamine by 250%, norepinephrine by 530%, and endorphins, which play a crucial role in emotion regulation, stress regulation, and reward processing. Deficits in these neurotransmitters have been reported as critical factors in developing psychiatric disorders such as depression, and anxiety (9). Many antidepressants work to increase the amount of dopamine, serotonin or norepinephrine in your synapses, but you can naturally boost these neurochemicals by stepping in the cold!