Dopamine — arguably the “feel good” neurotransmitter — is vital to our brain’s reward path. Its role is in the system of pleasure, reward, reinforcement of pro-social behaviors among others. Dopamine is released when we feel pleasure, reach a goal or just enjoy, for example, from eating a good meal or being appreciated. This release reinforces synaptic chains so that we’re encouraged to engage in behaviors repeating back to the positive experience.
DLPT II – Understanding Dopamine and Its Role in Motivation
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, a chemical messenger in the brain. It is involved with many functions, such as movement, memory, and emotional reactions. But Its crucial function is behaviour reinforcement. Increases in dopamine in response to a pleasurable activity leads to a sense of satisfaction that encourages us to do the activity again. This micro-mechanism is at the heart of all learning, goal setting, and habit formation.
The Reward System Stimulated by Positive Feelings
Pleasant emotions are triggers of dopamine release. Here are a few examples of how this happens:
- Accomplishment: Be it a little thing or a big milestone, the act of completing things releases dopamine, strengthening the feeling of completion, pushing towards a further goal.
- Social Connections: Spending quality time interacts with friends and families increase dopamine which promotes social bonding and emotional health.
- Movement: Exercise releases dopamine, which helps to elevate mood and motivation.
- Creative Activities: Making art or solving problems causes dopamine to be released in our brain— offering intrinsic gratification.
- Thankfulness and Positive Thinking: Expressing gratitude and thinking positively can also help to release dopamine, encouraging more optimism and resilience.
The Cycle of Positive Reinforcement
The brain’s reward system works on a feedback loop. If all goes well, dopamine reinforces the connections in the brain between the action leading to the result. This positive feedback loop motivates us to repeat those actions, which continues to speak towards our motivation and improvement.
For example, when a student receives compliments for good grades, the brain correlates studying with releasing dopamine that creates the sensation of pleasure. Such positive reinforcement encourages them to keep working hard in their studies. Likewise, an athlete who enjoys the thrill of winning a game will want to practice even harder, so that he/she may win in future games.
Dopamine Fast: How to Increase Dopamine Naturally
Embrace Daily Dopamine-Boosting Practices: Leverage the power of dopamine by incorporating the following into your daily routine:
- Set Small Goals — Achieving smaller milestones will give you a dopamine kick much more frequently than one big goal.
- Exercise — Exercise keeps dopamine levels in a healthy range and elevates mood.
- Practice Gratitude — Keeping a gratitude journal or taking the time to reflect on your positive experiences can help to boost dopamine production.
- Experiment New Activities — Trying new hobbies, learning new skills, or traveling to different places releases a dopamine rush.
- Eat a Healthy Diet — Foods that increase dopamine levels, such as bananas, nuts, and dark chocolate, help the neurotransmitter function.
Conclusion
When behaviour is positively reinforced, dopamine catalyzes a process called long-term potentiation (LTP) in the synapses of the brain that energises us to continue to engage in that behaviour so that we can a towards self-differentiation. And by purposely looking for situations that will promote dopamine, people will experience a better and more rewarding life. Again, thanks to dopamine, this cycle of positive reinforcement, is responsible for forming our habits and moving us towards success and happiness.
