Dopamine

What is Dopamine?

Dopamine is a key chemical messenger, or neurotransmitter, in your brain that plays a major role in how you feel pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation. It’s the chemical that makes you want to do things again after you’ve had a positive experience. It also helps control your movement, mood, sleep, learning, and concentration.

Dopamine is a monoamine neurotransmitter of the catecholamine family, produced in dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area of the brain. It is central to the brain’s reward system, regulating feelings of pleasure and motivation, which drives goal-directed behavior. Functionally, it is crucial for motor control (implicated in Parkinson’s disease when levels are low), memoryMemory is how your brain stors information for recall, later. It’s your own special filing system where it keeps information you’ve learned and experiences you’ve had. Sometimes you can recall this information easily, and sometimes you might find it hard… Continue to full entry, mood, learning, and concentration. Imbalances in dopamine levels are implicated in several mental illnesses, including depression, schizophrenia, and ADHDWhat is ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder comes in two main types. Learn more about it’s symptoms, behaviors and treatments, including prescription drug alternatives. Continue to full entry.

Supplements That Promote Dopamine

1. Tyrosine
2. L-DOPA (from Mucuna Pruriens)
3. B-Vitamins (B6 and Folate)
4. Magnesium
5. Zinc
6. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Evidence-Based Nutritional Research Sources for Dopamine:

1. Healthdirect → Dopamine
2. PubMed → The role of dopamine in motivated behavior
3. Harvard Health → Dopamine: The pleasure principle
4. ScienceDirect → Dopamine – ScienceDirect Topics