With the holidays in mind, I am sure that many of you must be very excited. But why exactly do we get so excited?Dopamine is a chemical messenger made in the brain which is released when expecting a reward. In other words, whenever experiencing an activity that is pleasurable, dopamine is released. When dopamine is released, you end up feeling more happy than you did in the moments prior. While you're opening your Christmas presents, the dopamine levels in your body increase in anticipation of getting the present inside. With that being said, enjoy the rest of your holidays!

How does Dopamine Work?

<figure><picture class="css-16pk1is"><source srcset="https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Two-girlfriends-having-fun-in-the-city-running-1296x728-header-1296x728.jpg?w=1575 750w" media="(min-width: 1190px)"><source srcset="https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Two-girlfriends-having-fun-in-the-city-running-1296x728-header-1296x728.jpg?w=1575 750w" media="(min-width: 990px)"><source srcset="https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Two-girlfriends-having-fun-in-the-city-running-1296x728-header-1296x728.jpg?w=1845 879w" media="(min-width: 768px)"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Two-girlfriends-having-fun-in-the-city-running-1296x728-header-1296x728.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=1528" alt="" width="690" height="388"></picture><figcaption dir="auto">Share on Pinterest</figcaption></figure>You might have heard that dopamine is the “feel good” neurotransmitter. In many ways, it is.Dopamine is strongly associated with pleasure and reward. Of course, it’s not as simple as just that. In fact, there’s a lot more to this complex chemical. Dopamine is involved in neurological and physiological functioning. It’s a contributing factor in motor function, mood, and even our decision making. It’s also associated with some movement and psychiatric disorders.We take a look at dopamine’s many roles and the signs that your dopamine levels are off.<div><a name="definition">What is dopamine?</a></div>Dopamine is a neurotransmitter made in the brain. Basically, it acts as a chemical messenger between neurons.Dopamine is released when your brain is expecting a reward.When you come to associate a certain activity with pleasure, mere anticipation may be enough to raise dopamine levels. It could be a certain food, sex, shopping, or just about anything else that you enjoy.For example, suppose your “go-to” comfort food is homemade double chocolate chip cookies. Your brain may increase dopamine when you smell them baking or see them come out of the oven. When you eat them, the flood of dopamine acts to reinforce this craving and focus on satisfying it in the future.It’s a cycle of motivation, reward, and reinforcement.Now imagine that you’ve been longing for those cookies all day, but your co-workers scarfed them down when you were sidetracked by a conference call. Your disappointment might lower your dopamine level and dampen your mood. It might also intensify your desire for double chocolate chip cookies. Now you want them even more.Aside from its “feel good” function, dopamine is involved in many body functions. These include:<UL><LI>blood flow</LI><LI>digestion</LI><LI>executive functioning</LI><LI>heart and kidney function</LI><LI>memory and focus</LI><LI>mood and emotions</LI><LI>motor control</LI><LI>pain processing</LI><LI>pancreatic function and insulin regulation</LI><LI>pleasure and reward seeking behavior</LI><LI>sleep</LI><LI>stress response</LI></UL>Keep in mind that dopamine isn’t acting alone. It works with other neurotransmitters and hormones, such as <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/serotonin" dir="ltr">serotonin</a> and <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/adrenaline-rush" dir="ltr">adrenaline</a>.An array of environmental factors also affect your physical and psychological well-being.<div><a name="how-it-makes-you-feel">How does dopamine make you feel?</a></div>The right amount of dopamine usually goes along with a pretty good mood. It’s ideal for learning, planning, and productivity.Dopamine contributes to feelings of:<UL><LI>alertness</LI><LI>focus</LI><LI>motivation</LI><LI>happiness</LI></UL>A flood of dopamine can produce temporary feelings of euphoria. <div><a name="low-dopamine-levels">Can you tell if you have a dopamine deficiency?&nbsp;</a></div>Low dopamine is one reason you may not be in the best mood. You might have: <UL><LI>reduced alertness</LI><LI>difficulty concentrating</LI><LI>less motivation and enthusiasm</LI><LI>poor coordination</LI><LI>movement difficulties</LI></UL><h3>Lack of sleep may lower dopamine levels</h3>Lack of dopamine can make you sleepy — but <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/sleep-deprivation/effects-on-body" dir="ltr">not sleeping</a> may also lower your dopamine.<h3>Conditions associated with low dopamine levels</h3>Some conditions that may be associated with low dopamine are:<UL><LI><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/parkinsons" dir="ltr">Parkinson’s disease</a>; symptoms include tremors, slowed movement, and sometimes <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/psychosis" dir="ltr">psychosis</a>.</LI><LI><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/depression" dir="ltr">Depression</a>; symptoms include sadness, sleep problems, and cognitive changes.</LI><LI><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/dopamine-deficiency" dir="ltr">Dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome</a>; also known as infantile parkinsonism-dystonia, this condition causes movement abnormalities similar to those of Parkinson’s disease.</LI></UL><div>ADVERTISEMENT</div><div>Health Insurance, Re-imagined</div>We're on a mission to make health insurance the way it should be: personalized, affordable, transparent, simple. See your no-obligation quote today.<div><a name="high-dopamine-levels">What happens when you have too much dopamine?</a></div>Very high levels of dopamine can make you feel on top of the world, at least for a while. It can also put you into serious overdrive.In excess, it may be a contributing factor in:Too much dopamine may play a role in:<div><a name="drugs-dopamine">How do drugs affect dopamine levels?</a></div>Certain drugs may interact with dopamine in a way that becomes habit-forming.<a href="https://www.healthline.com/health-news/heres-how-nicotine-affects-the-body" dir="ltr">Nicotine</a>, <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/alcohol-good-or-bad" dir="ltr">alcohol</a>, or other drugs with addictive qualities activate the dopamine cycle.These substances can cause a quicker, far more intense dopamine rush than you’d get from those double chocolate chip cookies. It’s such a powerful rush that you’re left wanting more — and soon.As a habit forms, the brain responds by toning down the dopamine. Now you need more of the substance to get to that same pleasure level. Overactivation also affects dopamine receptors in a way that makes you lose interest in other things. That can make you act more <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/obsession-vs-compulsion" dir="ltr">compulsively</a>. You’re less and less able to resist using these substances. When it becomes more of a need than a want, this is addiction. If you try to stop, you might go through physical and emotional symptoms of withdrawal.Even if you’ve stopped using the substances for a long time, exposure to the substance may trigger your desire and put you at risk of relapsing.Dopamine doesn’t bear sole responsibility for creating <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/addiction" dir="ltr">addiction</a>. Other things, like genetics and environmental factors, play a role.<div><a name="hormones-dopamine">How do hormones affect dopamine levels?</a></div>Dopamine also interacts with other <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/excitatory-neurotransmitters" dir="ltr">neurotransmitters </a>and <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/the-endocrine-system" dir="ltr">hormones</a>. For example, the neurotransmitter glutamate is involved in the pleasure and reward cycle in the brain.

Dopamine is strongly associated with pleasure and reward. It's also involved in motor function, mood, and even our decision making. Learn about symptoms of too much or too little dopamine and how it interacts with drugs and hormones.

You might have heard that dopamine is the “feel good” neurotransmitter. In many ways, it is.

Dopamine is strongly associated with pleasure and reward. Of course, it’s not as simple as just that. In fact, there’s a lot more to this complex chemical.

Dopamine is involved in neurological and physiological functioning. It’s a contributing factor in motor function, mood, and even our decision making. It’s also associated with some movement and psychiatric disorders.

We take a look at dopamine’s many roles and the signs that your dopamine levels are off.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter made in the brain. Basically, it acts as a chemical messenger between neurons.

Dopamine is released when your brain is expecting a reward.

When you come to associate a certain activity with pleasure, mere anticipation may be enough to raise dopamine levels. It could be a certain food, sex, shopping, or just about anything else that you enjoy.

For example, suppose your “go-to” comfort food is homemade double chocolate chip cookies. Your brain may increase dopamine when you smell them baking or see them come out of the oven. When you eat them, the flood of dopamine acts to reinforce this craving and focus on satisfying it in the future.

It’s a cycle of motivation, reward, and reinforcement.

Now imagine that you’ve been longing for those cookies all day, but your co-workers scarfed them down when you were sidetracked by a conference call. Your disappointment might lower your dopamine level and dampen your mood. It might also intensify your desire for double chocolate chip cookies. Now you want them even more.

Aside from its “feel good” function, dopamine is involved in many body functions. These include:

<ul><li>blood flow </li><li>digestion </li><li>executive functioning </li><li>heart and kidney function </li><li>memory and focus </li><li>mood and emotions </li><li>motor control </li><li>pain processing </li><li>pancreatic function and insulin regulation </li><li>pleasure and reward seeking behavior </li><li>sleep </li><li>stress response </li> </ul>

Keep in mind that dopamine isn’t acting alone. It works with other neurotransmitters and hormones, such as <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/serotonin">serotonin </a>and <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/adrenaline-rush">adrenaline </a>.

An array of environmental factors also affect your physical and psychological well-being.

The right amount of dopamine usually goes along with a pretty good mood. It’s ideal for learning, planning, and productivity.

Dopamine contributes to feelings of:

<ul><li>alertness </li><li>focus </li><li>motivation </li><li>happiness </li> </ul>

A flood of dopamine can produce temporary feelings of euphoria.

Low dopamine is one reason you may not be in the best mood. You might have:

<ul><li>reduced alertness </li><li>difficulty concentrating </li><li>less motivation and enthusiasm </li><li>poor coordination </li><li>movement difficulties </li> </ul>

Lack of dopamine can make you sleepy — but <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/sleep-deprivation/effects-on-body">not sleeping </a>may also lower your dopamine.

Conditions associated with low dopamine levels

Some conditions that may be associated with low dopamine are:

<ul><li><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/parkinsons">Parkinson’s disease </a>; symptoms include tremors, slowed movement, and sometimes <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/psychosis">psychosis </a>. </li><li><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/depression">Depression </a>; symptoms include sadness, sleep problems, and cognitive changes. </li><li><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/dopamine-deficiency">Dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome </a>; also known as infantile parkinsonism-dystonia, this condition causes movement abnormalities similar to those of Parkinson’s disease. </li> </ul>

We're on a mission to make health insurance the way it should be: personalized, affordable, transparent, simple. See your no-obligation quote today.

Very high levels of dopamine can make you feel on top of the world, at least for a while. It can also put you into serious overdrive.

In excess, it may be a contributing factor in:

Too much dopamine may play a role in:

Certain drugs may interact with dopamine in a way that becomes habit-forming.

<a href="https://www.healthline.com/health-news/heres-how-nicotine-affects-the-body">Nicotine </a>, <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/alcohol-good-or-bad">alcohol </a>, or other drugs with addictive qualities activate the dopamine cycle.

These substances can cause a quicker, far more intense dopamine rush than you’d get from those double chocolate chip cookies. It’s such a powerful rush that you’re left wanting more — and soon.

As a habit forms, the brain responds by toning down the dopamine. Now you need more of the substance to get to that same pleasure level.

Overactivation also affects dopamine receptors in a way that makes you lose interest in other things. That can make you act more <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/obsession-vs-compulsion">compulsively </a>. You’re less and less able to resist using these substances.

When it becomes more of a need than a want, this is addiction. If you try to stop, you might go through physical and emotional symptoms of withdrawal.

Even if you’ve stopped using the substances for a long time, exposure to the substance may trigger your desire and put you at risk of relapsing.

Dopamine doesn’t bear sole responsibility for creating <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/addiction">addiction </a>. Other things, like genetics and environmental factors, play a role.

Dopamine also interacts with other <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/excitatory-neurotransmitters">neurotransmitters </a>and <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/the-endocrine-system">hormones </a>. For example, the neurotransmitter glutamate is involved in the pleasure and reward cycle in the brain.

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How does Dopamine Work?

How does Dopamine Work?

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How does Dopamine Work?

How does Dopamine Work?

IDEAS ABOUT

MORE LIKE THIS

10 Best Ways to Increase Dopamine Levels Naturally

Serotonin And The Other Happy Hormones In Your Body

Here are 11 ways you can increase dopamine levels in the brain without medication

It's time to

READ

LIKE

A PRO!

Bite-sized knowledge
to upgrade
your career