The Science of Dopamine: Why We Love Reward Systems

Dopamine is known as the feel-good neurotransmitter, helping us feel pleasure and reinforcing certain decisions. It has a major impact on our behaviour and is released by the brain to drive us to do difficult things or fulfil our goals. Essentially, dopamine functions as part of a reward system, and this system is active during our daily habits and addictive behaviours.

In this article, we'll look at what exactly dopamine does in the body and the impact it has on our motivations and desires. We'll also explore the ways in which technology can harness our body's reward system and how to use the reward system to your advantage.

What is Dopamine and How Does it Work?

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, a chemical which is used to send messages between nerve cells in your brain and the rest of your body. It also functions as a hormone, allowing the brain to regulate other systems within the body.

Dopamine is released from the hypothalamus in the brain and has a role in movement, memory, attention, cognition, sleep, mood and learning. Most importantly, it affects pleasurable reward and motivation within the brain.

When dopamine is released in the brain, you feel a sense of pleasure. For evolutionary purposes, dopamine is released after completing something that improves your chance of surviving or passing on your genes, such as eating food or having sex. This then reinforces the behaviour, as you're more likely to do it again.

A significant part of human behaviour revolves around this reward system, where we carry out actions which trigger a release of dopamine, making us feel good. The more dopamine that's released, the more pleasurable it will feel and the more likely you are to try and do it again.

Having the right amount of dopamine in your system will have you feeling happy, motivated, alert and focused. However, not having enough or having an inconsistent amount can lead to feeling tired, unmotivated, unhappy and having mood swings or memory loss.

Gamification and Reward Systems

Our brains evolved to reward us for behaviour relevant to our survival. These natural reward systems are part of the reason why humans have been so successful, providing us with the motivation needed to compete for resources and survive in harsh conditions.

The release of dopamine is why we can feel happy and positive after exercising. Staying active and healthy is instrumental in our survival, but our brains have to provide the motivation through the release of dopamine. Without this, it would be far harder to find the time or motivation to exercise regularly, leading to lower fitness and poor health.

While our brains evolved to release dopamine due to behaviour relevant to our survival, it can also be triggered by artificial reward systems. Video games are a good example of this. In a typical game, your character increases strength or unlocks rewards by completing objectives. Each time the player unlocks a reward, they feel a sense of satisfaction as the brain releases dopamine for completing a goal.

This process is known as gamification, and it's essentially using your body's reward system for artificial purposes. You want to receive the dopamine hit, so you're more likely to keep playing and unlocking more rewards. Even if completing challenges in the game is difficult, the release of dopamine is a strong motivator.

Other forms of games, including slot machines, utilise the dopamine reward system in different ways. When playing a slot machine, winning spins are completely random. Research has shown that the random reward system, rather than a guaranteed result, has a higher chance of larger dopamine hits and, therefore, reinforces behaviour further. In addition, slot machines have near-miss effects, where slot symbols appear momentarily, giving players the feeling that they're getting closer. Bonus buy slots allow players to activate certain bonus features, which offer greater thrills from dopamine release.

Social media has also been shown to release dopamine and affect positive feedback mechanisms within the brain. When posting content or making comments, receiving likes, shares, comments and other notifications triggers the reward centre and leads to a release of dopamine.

Dopamine and Addiction

Although the dopamine reward system helps us to survive and thrive in difficult conditions, it also has its downsides. Too much dopamine in the body can lead to poor impulse control, higher aggression and difficulty sleeping. It can also contribute to addictive and harmful behaviours.

Many addictive substances including illegal narcotics such as cocaine and opioids directly or indirectly increase dopamine levels in the brain. Taking these drugs can result in a feeling of euphoria as the brain is flooded with dopamine, making the person feeling the need to take the drugs again. Taking these substances often can change the brain's reward pathways, leading to tolerance, cravings and addiction.

Other behaviours that result in the release of dopamine can also become addictive. Many people have difficulty controlling how much they eat, especially when it comes to sugary or fatty foods. Our bodies release a greater amount of dopamine when we eat foods that are high in calories, as these are more useful for survival. However, they can also lead to obesity and other health problems when not consumed in moderation.

How to Game Your Brain's Reward System

While the brain's reward system can lead to negative effects, it can also be gamed to improve your motivation and achieve healthy goals. To begin with, it's important to highlight behaviours and activities which result in excessive dopamine release. This can include certain foods, social media or games.

It's best to avoid excessive dopamine triggers where possible, as this will help to make other activities, such as exercise and achieving goals feel more pleasurable. You should then set about creating realistic goals and working towards them. Each time you complete an activity or task, ensure you reward yourself in some way.

You can also introduce specific obstacles or requirements before accessing dopamine-inducing activities. For example, deciding that you need to tidy up before you play any games. By following this strategy, you'll increase your brain's receptiveness to dopamine and improve your motivation to achieve your goals.