How Dopamine Works

This post is a summery of work by neuroscientist Wolfram Schultz via Nate Hagens.

Wolfram measured dopamine neurons in monkey's during reward learning experiments.

The monkey's would learn to receive a fruit juice following a light or sound que.

When the reward was unexpected, the dopamine would surge.

The next time, the dopamine would be triggered at the light or sound que. Not at the reward itself.

If the monkey did not get a reward after the que, it would experience a dip in dopamine. A punishment.

The key insight is: dopamine is the difference between expected reward and actual reward. And they fire most when reward is better than expected. Stop firing when reward is matched with expectations. Decrease firing when the reward worse than expected.

Dopamine is a prediction-error system that drives learning and motivation, as opposed to just a pleasure button. We become tolerant to positive curcumstances. Surprise is more rewarding. Dopamine is training us to learn and seek out where the most nuts and berries are.

Addiction involves escalating the reward and/or getting random awards (loot boxes, gambling). After the first exposure, you get a hit of dopamine in anticipation of your reward. To motivate you. If you get what you wanted: you feel nothing more. If you don't get anything: you feel bummed out. If it's better than ever: you get another hit. This is used by social media apps.

EDIT: Another trigger for dopamine will probably be novelty. For nutrition and mating, variety is an advantage.

So... give your loved ones surprise random unusual escalating gifts. 😉

You can get over addictions with Urge Surfing. Basically riding the pulse of dopamine without engaging. Letting it go. 

Click here to read my guide to Urge Surfing.


peace 🧡✌️



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