Dopamine and it's Uses:
As stated before, dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain therefore is used by each and everyone on earth. Not just human intelligent life, but also lesser lifeforms. Dopamine has many functions to our individuals lives. I like to think of this molecule as the foundation of life within life. What does that mean? Well we each have a life, one life in which we sustain ourselves to survive and move to another bright and sunny day. But then we also have a life within that life. This life has a different definition, it is in respect to our social experiences and journeys that we have embarked upon in the given time period of ones humanly life expectancy. These experiences help form each individual respective personalities creating a very individualistic world. These special experiences though, without dopamine, would be the exact same as say, taking a dump. The feeling that one gets when they have their first kiss, that passionate feeling of a thousand Suns burning is all correlated to dopamine itself. My emolecule corresponds to many different functions in the human body such as; movement, memory, pleasurable reward, behavior and cognition,attention, inhibition of prolactin production, sleep, mood, and learning. Below I shall elaborate of some of the more important functions of dopamine.
As stated before, dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain therefore is used by each and everyone on earth. Not just human intelligent life, but also lesser lifeforms. Dopamine has many functions to our individuals lives. I like to think of this molecule as the foundation of life within life. What does that mean? Well we each have a life, one life in which we sustain ourselves to survive and move to another bright and sunny day. But then we also have a life within that life. This life has a different definition, it is in respect to our social experiences and journeys that we have embarked upon in the given time period of ones humanly life expectancy. These experiences help form each individual respective personalities creating a very individualistic world. These special experiences though, without dopamine, would be the exact same as say, taking a dump. The feeling that one gets when they have their first kiss, that passionate feeling of a thousand Suns burning is all correlated to dopamine itself. My emolecule corresponds to many different functions in the human body such as; movement, memory, pleasurable reward, behavior and cognition,attention, inhibition of prolactin production, sleep, mood, and learning. Below I shall elaborate of some of the more important functions of dopamine.
Dopamine and Movement:
The part of the brain known as the basal ganglia is responsible for controlled movement of the human body. For the basal ganglia to function at peak efficiency, it depends on a certain amount of dopamine which is absorbed into the basal ganglia via dopamine receptors. The dopamine itself is stored in a structure called the pars compacta. As dopamine is fired from this structure and is received and incorporated into the basal ganglia, this plays a significant role in the control of motor function and in the learning of new motor programs.
The part of the brain known as the basal ganglia is responsible for controlled movement of the human body. For the basal ganglia to function at peak efficiency, it depends on a certain amount of dopamine which is absorbed into the basal ganglia via dopamine receptors. The dopamine itself is stored in a structure called the pars compacta. As dopamine is fired from this structure and is received and incorporated into the basal ganglia, this plays a significant role in the control of motor function and in the learning of new motor programs.
Dopamine and Pleasurable Rewards:
Remember that analogy of ones first kiss I was talking about. Well here is an outline as to why that happens. Pleasure in the brain is mediated by, well obviously dopamine. The molecule is released during pleasurable activity, even if the activity isn't being performed physically, the brain still emits dopamine to motivate one into seeking out that specific activity. The areas of the brain that dopamine is projected to in order to create these reactions are the prefrontal cortex (via the mesocortical pathway) and the nucleus accumbens (via the mesolimbic pathway). The limbic part of the brain is manifested by the nucleus accumbens which basically means that this structure is responsible for enjoying what we enjoy.
Remember that analogy of ones first kiss I was talking about. Well here is an outline as to why that happens. Pleasure in the brain is mediated by, well obviously dopamine. The molecule is released during pleasurable activity, even if the activity isn't being performed physically, the brain still emits dopamine to motivate one into seeking out that specific activity. The areas of the brain that dopamine is projected to in order to create these reactions are the prefrontal cortex (via the mesocortical pathway) and the nucleus accumbens (via the mesolimbic pathway). The limbic part of the brain is manifested by the nucleus accumbens which basically means that this structure is responsible for enjoying what we enjoy.
Dopamine and Social Functioning:
The same trend of dopamine being released from the pars compacta and fired to a specific part of the brain via a specific pathway then being accepted by dopamine receptors also occur with social functioning of human beings. Although the specific part of the brain that is responsible for this is not clearly known to the world as yet. The receptor that accepts dopamine for this function is knows as D2, and low D2 receptors can result in social anxiety and such. The feeling of fear that I will have while presenting this project is going to be cause by this phenomenon.
The same trend of dopamine being released from the pars compacta and fired to a specific part of the brain via a specific pathway then being accepted by dopamine receptors also occur with social functioning of human beings. Although the specific part of the brain that is responsible for this is not clearly known to the world as yet. The receptor that accepts dopamine for this function is knows as D2, and low D2 receptors can result in social anxiety and such. The feeling of fear that I will have while presenting this project is going to be cause by this phenomenon.
Dopamine isn't all Good:
As with everything, dopamine also has it's bad effects on the body. If too much is left in our systems then we become addicted to whatever action or substance that case that overhaul of dopamine in the first place. For this reason is why the world is filled with so many addicts, weather it be sex addicts, drug addicts, dopamine plays a big roll in these addictions.
As with everything, dopamine also has it's bad effects on the body. If too much is left in our systems then we become addicted to whatever action or substance that case that overhaul of dopamine in the first place. For this reason is why the world is filled with so many addicts, weather it be sex addicts, drug addicts, dopamine plays a big roll in these addictions.
Dopamine and Cocaine:
In a normal transmission of dopamine from its place holder: the ventral tegmental area (VTA)- to the dopamine receptors within the nucleus accumbens: the limbic system of the brain responsible for the reward and pleasurable feelings of the body- the dopamine first has to pass through the neurons that fire it and be released in the synapse (gap between neurons) where it comes into contact with dopamine receptors and lock onto them like a key to a lock. In this event not all the dopamine is used up and some is left over. This excess dopamine is then recycled by the reuptake receptors within each synapse to assure maximum is used. Drugs like cocaine inhibit the reuptake of dopamine in this systematic process therefore leaving large amounts of dopamine in the synapse. This cause the excessive level of euphoria while taking cocaine, and each time you take cocaine the body is going to want more and more dopamine to be left over, cause it feels so good. This in the long run make the users dependent on cocaine to feel good. Basically, cocaine is bad!!!
In a normal transmission of dopamine from its place holder: the ventral tegmental area (VTA)- to the dopamine receptors within the nucleus accumbens: the limbic system of the brain responsible for the reward and pleasurable feelings of the body- the dopamine first has to pass through the neurons that fire it and be released in the synapse (gap between neurons) where it comes into contact with dopamine receptors and lock onto them like a key to a lock. In this event not all the dopamine is used up and some is left over. This excess dopamine is then recycled by the reuptake receptors within each synapse to assure maximum is used. Drugs like cocaine inhibit the reuptake of dopamine in this systematic process therefore leaving large amounts of dopamine in the synapse. This cause the excessive level of euphoria while taking cocaine, and each time you take cocaine the body is going to want more and more dopamine to be left over, cause it feels so good. This in the long run make the users dependent on cocaine to feel good. Basically, cocaine is bad!!!
Sex and Dopamine:
The same type of situation happening with cocaine applies to sex addiction also. Except here no drug is involved, just the pure last and thirstiness of the individuals committing the action. Too much sex releases a lot of dopamine into the nucleus accumbens and in order to sustain that feeling the body wants that same amount of dopamine in the next round plus a little more. This is why having sex while on drugs can screw with your sex life forever because drugs inhibit the reuptake of dopamine, plus sex already releases so much dopamine to begin with. therefore creating a situation where there is just way too much dope in your system making the experience feel super! But then when you have sex without the drug, the dopamine reuptake proteins can function properly leaving not near as many dopamine levels there was the last time while on drugs.
The same type of situation happening with cocaine applies to sex addiction also. Except here no drug is involved, just the pure last and thirstiness of the individuals committing the action. Too much sex releases a lot of dopamine into the nucleus accumbens and in order to sustain that feeling the body wants that same amount of dopamine in the next round plus a little more. This is why having sex while on drugs can screw with your sex life forever because drugs inhibit the reuptake of dopamine, plus sex already releases so much dopamine to begin with. therefore creating a situation where there is just way too much dope in your system making the experience feel super! But then when you have sex without the drug, the dopamine reuptake proteins can function properly leaving not near as many dopamine levels there was the last time while on drugs.
Dopamine can also help with sex, not in the pleasurable aspect but the actual Physical Action.
There are molecules called D1/D2 agnonist (a molecule that makes the brain want to release that certain type of neurotransmitter). If these are injected into the body, the D1/D2 transmitters are released which can help with eternal disfunction. Yay!!!
There are molecules called D1/D2 agnonist (a molecule that makes the brain want to release that certain type of neurotransmitter). If these are injected into the body, the D1/D2 transmitters are released which can help with eternal disfunction. Yay!!!
Dopaminic Compounds:
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and therefore is produced naturally in the brain. It not not found in any other compound outside the brain, at least to my level of research it's not. What can be done though, to increase dopamine levels within the body naturally is the following:
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and therefore is produced naturally in the brain. It not not found in any other compound outside the brain, at least to my level of research it's not. What can be done though, to increase dopamine levels within the body naturally is the following:
- Diet: Eat lots of food rich with tyrosine, which is a molecule that turns into dopamine within the body after chunks of synthesizing and relations within the body. Tyrosine can be found in Almonds, avocados, bananas, low-fat dairy, meat and poultry, lima beans, sesame and pumpkin seeds. Also increasing your intake of antioxidants can increase dopamine levels within the body. Dopamine is a molecule that can be easily oxidized, so these antioxidants reduce free radical damage to the brain cells that produce dopamine. Many fruits and veggies are rich in antioxidants.
- Through lifestyle choices: Exercising regularly increases blood calcium in the body which stimulates dopamine release and within the brain. Lots of sleep, because it's a known fact that a well rested person is happier than a sleep deprived person.
- Through supplements: There are different dopamine agonist supplements out there on there market that you can probably find on google.
The Origins of Dopamine:
Dopamine was discovered by a pharmacologist named Arvid Carlson in the year 1957, working at the Department of pharmacology at Solvegatan 10 in Lund. Before him, dopamine was thought to be made from the intermediary synthesis of noradrenaline and adrenaline from tyrosine. But Arvid Carlson proved that dopamine was made independent of these other molecules within the brain, and that is was a neurotransmitter. This discovery was so significant in the medical industry that he was granted the noble prize of 2000.
Dopamine was discovered by a pharmacologist named Arvid Carlson in the year 1957, working at the Department of pharmacology at Solvegatan 10 in Lund. Before him, dopamine was thought to be made from the intermediary synthesis of noradrenaline and adrenaline from tyrosine. But Arvid Carlson proved that dopamine was made independent of these other molecules within the brain, and that is was a neurotransmitter. This discovery was so significant in the medical industry that he was granted the noble prize of 2000.
Molecules made from Dopamine:
As shown in Act 2, dopamine can make Norephedrine, L-DOPA, and homovillanic acid.
As shown in Act 2, dopamine can make Norephedrine, L-DOPA, and homovillanic acid.
References:
Dope and it's uses: http://www.news-medical.net/health/Dopamine-Functions.aspx
http://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.asn.com/production/attacheds/2057/original/030813_ISI_JonesJermaine_INTPIX121.jpg?1362756603
http://s5.favim.com/orig/54/with-first-kiss-the-sweet-boy-Favim.com-525758.jpg
Dopamine isn't all good: http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/cocaine/how-does-cocaine-produce-its-effects
http://www.yourbrainonporn.com/book/export/html/301
Dopaminc Compouds: http://www.wikihow.com/Increase-Dopamine
The Origins of Dopamine: http://www.med.lu.se/wnc/the_discovery_of_dopamine
http://sahlgrenska.gu.se/digitalAssets/1277/1277268_Arvid-Carlsson220.jpg
Dope and it's uses: http://www.news-medical.net/health/Dopamine-Functions.aspx
http://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.asn.com/production/attacheds/2057/original/030813_ISI_JonesJermaine_INTPIX121.jpg?1362756603
http://s5.favim.com/orig/54/with-first-kiss-the-sweet-boy-Favim.com-525758.jpg
Dopamine isn't all good: http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/cocaine/how-does-cocaine-produce-its-effects
http://www.yourbrainonporn.com/book/export/html/301
Dopaminc Compouds: http://www.wikihow.com/Increase-Dopamine
The Origins of Dopamine: http://www.med.lu.se/wnc/the_discovery_of_dopamine
http://sahlgrenska.gu.se/digitalAssets/1277/1277268_Arvid-Carlsson220.jpg