What is Dopamine? How it works?

Have you ever wondered why sometimes we feel excited and other times completely indifferent? Why certain things spark joy or bring a smile, while others barely stir us? I was walking down an alley the other day, passing by a rickshaw. The driver had a retro song playing—“Chal Chaiyya Chaiyya, Chaiyya Chaiyya - Chal Chaiyya Chaiyya, Chaiyya Chaiyya.” The moment I heard it, I felt a surge of excitement. Just that familiar rhythm was enough to lift my mood and make me feel alive again.

I wondered why it happened. I searched Google for a scientific reason, and a word popped up “Dopamine”. I dive into details, and find it more interesting that I would like to share in my Knowledge Junction?

What is Dopamine?

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and hormone, basically a messenger in your brain. It plays a crucial role in reward and failure, motivation and disappointment, and mood.

Let me explain a little more

Dopamine is released in our brain when we experience pleasure or joy.

It is an essential part of controlling your body. Basically, Dopamine is essential for coordinating movement and muscle control.

It also affects our ability to focus, learn, and make decisions.

It controls our emotions, too. It contributes to feelings of pleasure, happiness, and motivation, therefore, imbalances of dopamine in your brain can lead to mood disorders.

It also affects our sleep cycle.

How Dopamine Work?

Dopamine acts as a messenger, a chemical messenger actually, which transmits signals between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. Take it as a group admin.

When I heard the beats of the song, dopamine in my brain elevated. Which called dopamine elevation, it refers to an increase in dopamine levels in the brain, which increases pleasure.

Dopamine elevation is important but at a balanced level. Low and high can leads to various problems. For example, low dopamine makes you demotivated, depressed, and inactive. Whereas high dopamine can increase impulsiveness and aggression.

Means, a levelled dopamine is certainly good to lift your mood and spirit. If you feel your level is not levelled, you can try these things and cheer up your mood.

Natural Ways to Elevate Dopamine

Here are some ways you can increase the dopamine level in your brain naturally.

Engagement in activities that bring joy and satisfaction, such as dancing, cooking, or spending time with loved ones, can trigger dopamine release. This is why meeting someone we like always gives the same energy I got from hearing the same.

Exercise and doing physical activity that excites you, can also boost dopamine levels.

Sleep certainly plays an important part, an adequate amount of sleep is good for overall brain function, including dopamine production.

Melodious music, especially soothing one, can help you regulate mood and dopamine levels.

Take yourself on a walk to nature, being outdoors, surrounded with trees, wind, and birds, and sometimes a corner of a coffee house can have a positive impact on mental health and dopamine levels.

This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional