Dopamine physical and psychological effects of this neurotransmitter

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Sherman Hoover
Dopamine physical and psychological effects of this neurotransmitter

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter released by the brain that performs many important functions in our body. Dopamine is produced by dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the midbrain, in the substantia nigra, and the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus.

Contents

  • Dopamine function
  • How dopamine affects us
  • Dopamine and pleasure as a reward
  • Dopamine and addiction
  • Dopamine and memory
  • Dopamine and attention
  • Dopamine and cognition
  • Dopamine and creativity
  • Dopamine and social relationships
  • Personality according to dopamine level
  • Dopamine levels and psychosis
  • Pain processing
  • Dopamine and the regulation of prolactin secretion
  • Dopamine in nausea and vomiting
    • References

Dopamine function

Some of its functions are the following:

  • Movement
  • Memory
  • Pleasure reward
  • Behaviour
  • Attention
  • Inhibition of prolactin production
  • Dream
  • Mood
  • Learning

Deficiency or excess of this chemical is the cause of more or less severe disorders. Parkinson's disease and drug addiction are some of the examples of problems associated with abnormal dopamine levels.

How dopamine affects us

A part of the brain called the basal ganglia regulates movement. The basal ganglia, in turn, depend on a certain amount of dopamine to function at maximum efficiency. The action of dopamine occurs through the dopamine D1-5 receptors.

Dopamine reduces the influence of the indirect pathway and increases the actions of the direct pathway within the basal ganglia. When there is a deficiency of dopamine in the brain, movements can be delayed and uncoordinated. On the other hand, if there is an excess of dopamine, the brain induces the body to carry out unnecessary movements, such as repetitive tics..

Dopamine and pleasure as a reward

Dopamine is the chemical that intervenes in the pleasure receptors of the brain. It is released in pleasant situations and stimulates the individual to go in search of what has given him this sensation. Here is mainly food, sex and drugs of abuse, since all of them stimulate the release of dopamine in the brain, particularly in areas such as the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex.

In fact, being overweight has been related to a deficit of dopamine receptors in the subject's nervous system, which is why they seem to need to eat more food to feel the same satisfaction as other people.

Dopamine and addiction

Cocaine and amphetamines inhibit dopamine reuptake.

Cocaine is a dopamine transporter blocker that competitively inhibits dopamine uptake to increase its presence at receptors.

Amphetamine increases the concentration of dopamine in the synaptic space, but through a different mechanism. Amphetamines are similar in structure to dopamine, and thus can enter the presynaptic neuron through its dopamine transporters. Amphetamines force dopamine molecules out of their storage vesicles. By increasing the presence of dopamine in the synaptic space, there is an increase in pleasant feelings and finally addiction.

Dopamine and memory

Elevated levels of dopamine in the brain, especially the prefrontal cortex, aid in improving working memory. However, this is a delicate balance, as levels both rise and fall to abnormal levels, so memory suffers..

Dopamine and attention

Dopamine helps concentration and attention. Dopamine helps focus vision, and this in turn helps better direct attention. Dopamine also seems to be responsible for determining what remains in our short-term memory based on the information received. Reduced dopamine concentrations in the prefrontal cortex are believed to contribute to attention deficit disorder ADHD.

Dopamine and cognition

Dopamine controls the flow of information from the frontal lobes of the brain as well as from other areas. Dopamine disorders in this region lead to decreased neurocognitive functions, especially memory, attention, and problem solving..

Dopamine D1 and D4 receptors are responsible for enhancing cognitive processes. Some of the antipsychotic medications used in disorders such as schizophrenia act as dopamine antagonists. So-called "typical" antipsychotics act more often on D2 receptors, while atypical drugs also act on D1, D3 and D4 receptors.

Dopamine and creativity

It has been observed that people with a lower density of dopamine D2 receptors at the thalamic level are more creative.

One of the functions of the thalamus is to filter stimuli from the cerebral cortex. Apparently fewer receptors would facilitate neural connections that allow us to associate concepts in a more efficient way, thus improving creativity.

Dopamine and social relationships

Sociability is also closely linked to dopamine neurotransmission. Low uptake and binding of dopamine D2 is often found in people with social anxiety or social phobia.

It is believed that some of the negative characteristics of schizophrenia (social withdrawal, apathy, anhedonia) may be related to low levels of dopamine in certain areas of the brain.

On the other hand, people with bipolar disorder in manic states become hypersocial as well as hypersexual. This is attributed to an increase in dopamine. Manic states can be reduced with dopamine blockers such as antipsychotics.

Personality according to dopamine level

Some research shows that the amount of dopamine found in the brain amygdala could be an indicator of the degree of nervousness or habitual calm of a person, as well as the confidence that they have in themselves or the tendency to be more or less fearful.

Another personality trait that is affected by dopamine is the search for strong emotions. It seems that a greater presence of dopamine in certain brain regions influences having more "optimistic" expectations or a lack of danger, assuming too high risks.

It can also help create a more motivated personality. People with higher levels of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex are more willing and motivated to meet demanding goals.

Dopamine levels and psychosis

Abnormally high dopamine transmission has been linked to psychosis and schizophrenia. For this reason, antipsychotics work largely by inhibiting dopamine at the receptor level..

Pain processing

Dopamine plays a role in pain processing at multiple levels in the central nervous system. This includes the spinal cord, periaqueductal gray matter (PAG), thalamus, basal ganglia, insular cortex, and cingulate cortex. Low dopamine levels are associated with painful symptoms that frequently occur in Parkinson's disease.

Dopamine and the regulation of prolactin secretion

Dopamine is the main neuroendocrine inhibitor of prolactin secretion from the anterior pituitary gland. Dopamine produced by neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus is released into the hypothalamic-pituitary blood vessels of the median eminence, which supply the pituitary gland. This acts on the cells that produce prolactin. These cells can produce prolactin in the absence of dopamine. Dopamine is the prolactin inhibitor hormone (PIH), or prolactostatin.

Dopamine in nausea and vomiting

Dopamine is one of the neurotransmitters involved in the control of nausea and vomiting through interactions in the activation zone of chemoreceptors. Metoclopramide is a D2-receptor antagonist and prevents nausea and vomiting.

References

Bradford, H.F. (1988). Fundamentals of neurochemistry. Barcelona: Labor.

Berridge K, Robinson T (1998). "What is the role of dopamine in reward: hedonic impact, reward learning, or incentive salience?". Brain Res Brain Res Rev 28 (3): 309-69. PMID 9858756

Carpenter, M. 1994. Neuroanatomy, Fundamentals. Fourth edition. Panamerican Medical Editorial

González, S. et al. Circadian-related heteromerization of adrenergic and dopamine D4 receptors modulates melatonin synthesis and release in the pineal gland. PLoS Biology 10 (6), June 19, 2012

Guyton, A. Anatomy and Physiology of the Nervous System. Basic neuroscience. Second edition. Panamerican Medical Editorial

Schultz W (2002). "Getting formal with dopamine and reward". Neuron 36 (2): 241-263. PMID 12383780

Uribe, C. Arana, A. Lorenzana, P. 1997. Fundamentals of medicine. Neurology. Fifth edition. Corporation for Biological Research

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/mds.22020

https://academic.oup.com/edrv/article-abstract/6/4/564/2548821?redirectedFrom=fulltext

http://www.revbiomed.uady.mx/pdf/rb001116.pdf


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