Delineating how a single compound can significantly influence our psychological well-being, joy, and biological processes
If you’re an avid reader, particularly of complex scientific content, chances are you’ve come across the term “dopamine”. Perhaps, however, you’re more inclined towards literature focusing on mental health wellness, in which case, dopamine would also have popped up. Or maybe, you enjoy a quiet evening nestled on your couch, immersed in your favorite magazine’s love guidance column as the sun sets. Even in such relaxed scenarios, dopamine gets a mention. This all-time substance is known to facilitate various important brain functions like memory, mood, learning, sleep, pleasure, reward, and even lactation. Moreover, dopamine is not just confined to our brains, but also significantly contributes to the functionality of other organs like our intestines.
Primarily known as a neurotransmitter, defining dopamine merely as such would be an understatement given its wide spectrum of functions. It is also recognized as a hormone, structurally akin to epinephrine and norepinephrine, and is produced and stored within the adrenal glands.
Focusing on its role as a neurotransmitter, dopamine is synthesized within the hypothalamus and other brain areas. This neurotransmitter aids in the transmission of electrical signals within neurons and from neurons to targeted organs.
Reflecting back on my personal experience, I became acquainted with dopamine during my college endocrinology class. However, my understanding of it wasn’t confined to just one class. It was a recurring component in my studies, appearing in neurology, psychiatry, and countless other courses. Now, let’s delve a bit deeper into how dopamine might be influencing your brain and overall mental health.
Mood swings and emotional disturbances: Let me unfold an extensive catalogue of emotional disturbances. See if you are familiar with any of them: Cyclothymia, Major Depressive Disorder, Manic depressive disorder (bipolar), Persistent depressive disorder, Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, Dysthymia, Disruptive mood regulation disorder, Hypomania, and Mania. Can you identify any of them? If not, don’t fret. I have used their official terminologies, which can admittedly be a bit quirky.
The essential point here is that all these mood disturbances have one common factor – dopamine. To illustrate, consider depression. The current scientific agreement is that depression occurs due to either insufficient dopamine in certain parts of the brain, or reduced sensitivity to dopamine. This dysfunction of dopamine in the brain leads to the negative symptoms of depression which include a diminished sense of pleasure in previously enjoyable activities, lethargy, minimal speech, and social disengagement. To be precise, this is just a high-level explanation of how dopamine functions in depression.
On the other hand, if we look at mania, which is on the other end of the emotional spectrum, we see a different story. If depression is the outcome of a downward dysregulation of dopamine, mania is derived from its opposite: an overproduction of dopamine or increased sensitivity to it. This results in an overabundance of energy, hyperactivity, rapid speech, racing thoughts, and little or no sleep requirement. These are all common characteristics found in manic episodes.
Schizophrenia and Psychosis: The human brain is a large and intricate network, serviced by various types of neurons, each performing distinct roles. Simultaneously, several brain segments have functions that converge, implying that no single region can operate independently. Within these intricate systems, neurons and neurotransmitters traverse distinctive routes based upon the tasks they are required to perform. One such route is the mesolimbic pathway, originating from the ventral tegmental area then reaching the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and hippocampus. When illness or drug use excessively amplifies dopamine levels in the mesolimbic pathway, it can lead to a myriad of symptoms. These include hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, unusual and repetitive actions, alongside confused thoughts and thinking patterns, all of which are symptomatic of psychosis.
Enjoyment and gratification: Participating in desired activities such as working out, intimate moments, or indulging in your favourite dessert, triggers an increase in dopamine levels in your brain. This surge in dopamine is the cause of the enjoyment you feel during these instances. This sense of joy kick-starts a cycle of gratification-reward. Due to the heightened dopamine giving you a sense of well-being, your mind links the activity with this positive sensation — the prize. This linkage fuels your inclination to engage in the enjoyable activity again in the future, to relive the experience of feeling good.
Substance Misuse: The dual components of joy and reward play significant roles in substance misuse. Consuming potent substances affects your brain similarly to indulging in any other enjoyable activity. In particular, the brain’s response to these substances is an amplified dopamine production in certain areas, resulting in intense pleasure. This exhilarating experience encourages repeated usage, popularly termed as ‘pursuit of the high’. However, the likelihood of substance addiction is considerably higher than that of, let’s say, excessive chocolate cake consumption, primarily due to the massive surge in dopamine levels. Substances such as cocaine and nicotine amplify the brain’s dopamine levels up to tenfold compared to the natural reward system. The brain connects this substance to the overwhelming pleasure triggered by a rush of dopamine. Nevertheless, this dopamine influx is temporary. As dopamine levels dip, you’re left with a stark mood crash and a decline in general disposition. The longing for the previous euphoria leads to increased consumption to reinforce dopamine levels and reignite the intense pleasure. This pattern drives addiction, virtually of all types.
Lastly, but certainly not least, love.
Affection: One might wonder, does this involve affection too? Absolutely, the enchanting sensation of affection is not free from the influence of dopamine. Do the fluttering sensations in your belly ring any bells? That’s dopamine communicating. When there’s an attraction or affection towards someone, our brain is stimulated to release an elevated quantity of dopamine, making it a joyful encounter. Love, via the route of dopamine, truly becomes a reward in itself.
Suggestions
Considering that dopamine plays a crucial role in most brain and neuron functions, one might contemplate if enhancing the brain’s dopamine levels naturally is feasible. More importantly, the focus should be on sustaining a healthy balance of dopamine. The following actions can be beneficial in this regard;
- Maintain a balanced diet: The brain uses approximately a quarter of the energy derived from food. A poor nutritional habit can impede the production of dopamine. Additionally, steer clear of processed sugars. Despite giving an initial dopamine boost, they could lead to a decline in mood following the initial surge and overall, are detrimental to health.
- Engage in meditation
- Ensure adequate sleep
- Exercise consistently
- Indulge in music
- Take delight in the beauty of nature and art
- Cultivate a habit of gratitude: Express your gratitude when people perform kind gestures. Make a deliberate effort to appreciate others and reciprocate their kindness.
