pathoscribe

Written by Maya Wen | Art by Maya Wen

When I get a question on Khan Academy right, that familiar ding sound plays. After it plays, a rush of happiness courses through my brain, and the need to get another question right consumes me. If I get a question wrong, all I feel is disappointment. Why is that?

Dopamine is one of the main reasons. So, what is dopamine? Dopamine is a chemical messenger that is produced by neurons at the base of the brain. It is initially made of an amino acid called tyrosine before it is then converted into another amino acid,  known as L-dopa, and eventually dopamine.

When you complete an action that makes you feel good, your brain releases dopamine. It is a natural reward that your brain releases whenever it thinks that you have done something good. Dopamine is also what makes sugar, junk food, drugs, and other activities so addicting. Your brain releases dopamine every time you do it, making you want to continue to repeat that activity. For example, watching short-form entertainment such as TikToks can be highly addictive due to the dopamine that you receive after watching a video. When you take drugs, it gives you a large rush of dopamine. However, in the future, this drug use can cause dopamine deficits when you’re sober, which will cause emotional lows and intense cravings for drugs.

Dopamine also plays a large role in many mental health issues, whether it’s too much or too little dopamine. Imbalances of dopamine in different pathways can lead to schizophrenia, and shortages of dopamine can cause ADHD.

In conclusion, dopamine has a large impact on your mental health, so it’s important that you maintain and restrict your access to dopamine when needed.

Works Cited: 

“Dopamine: What It Is, Function, Deficiency & How to Boost It.” WebMD, WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-dopamine. 

“Dopamine: What It Is, Function & Symptoms.” Cleveland Clinic, 1 May 2024, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22581-dopamine. 

Pietrangelo, Ann. “Dopamine Effects on the Body, plus Drug and Hormone Interactions.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 5 Nov. 2019, http://www.healthline.com/health/dopamine-effects#low-dopamine-levels. 

Watson, Stephanie. “Dopamine: The Pathway to Pleasure.” Harvard Health, 18 Apr. 2024, http://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/dopamine-the-pathway-to-pleasure.