|
Do·pa·mine
/ˈdōpəˌmēn/
noun
BIOCHEMISTRY
Definition:
- a compound present in the body as a neurotransmitter and a precursor of other substances including epinephrine. Dopamine is a hormone and a neurotransmitter that plays several important roles in the brain and body. It is an organic chemical of the catecholamine and phenethylamine families.
---> Dopamine is a diverse and important type of neurotransmitter. Your body makes it, and your nervous system uses it to send messages between nerve cells. Dopamine is a messenger molecule in the brain that allows certain nerve cells to communicate with one another. That's why it's sometimes called a chemical messenger.
|
|
|
---> Your brain is a hotbed of electrochemical activity. About 100 billion neurons are each firing off 5-50 messages (action potentials) per second. This activity allows you to process your environment, attention span, feel pleasure, motivation, move your muscles, learn, keeping your balance and more!
|
|
|
|
|
Dopamine has four major pathways. Dopamine pathways are neuronal connections in which dopamine travels to areas of the brain and body to convey important information such as executive thinking, cognition, feelings of reward and pleasure, and voluntary motor movements.
|
|
The Four Major Pathways
1.) Mesolimbic Dopamine Pathways
2.) Mesocortical Dopamine Pathways
3.) Nigrostriatal Dopamine Pathways
4.) Tuberoinfundibular Dopamine Pathways
|
|
---> Dopamine is produced in several areas of the brain, the two main areas being; the substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area.
---> The ventral tegmental area, a group of neurons at the very centre of the brain, plays an especially important role in this circuit. It receives information from several other regions that tell it how well various fundamental needs, and more specifically human needs, are being satisfied.
---> The substantia nigra is very important for movement. The term means “black substance” in Latin. This area of your brain is actually dark grey or black. The reason: Cells that produce dopamine also make another chemical that stains the area a dark colour.
|
|
|
Dopaminergic pathways, sometimes called dopamine pathways or dopaminergic projections, are the sets of projection neurons in the brain that synthesize and release the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine neurons have axons that run the entire length of the pathway. Dopaminergic substances or actions increase dopamine-related activity in the brain. Dopaminergic brain pathways facilitate dopamine-related activity.
|
|
|
|
|
Did you know...?
There are four primary chemicals that can
drive the positive emotions you feel:
dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins.
|
|
|
The cell body is part of the cell in which an electrical impulse is generated. The dendrites form a branching structure off of the cell body and act as receivers. Neurotransmitters bind to receptors on dendrites that trigger membrane currents to promote or relay the electrical impulse/ signal carried by the neurotransmitter from one cell to its neighbour. The electrical impulse travels down the axon to the terminal where neurotransmitters are synthesized, stored and then released.
|
|
|
---> When the brain cells that make dopamine start to die off, causing a deficiency, a person can develop certain diseases, mental health issues and negative side effects such as; trouble initiating movement, slowed movement, cognitive changes, tremors, depression, sleep problems, psychosis and more. Dopamine is implicated in ADHD, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, bipolar disorders, binge eating, addiction, gambling, and schizophrenia.
---> Effects of overly high dopamine levels include high libido, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, increased energy, mania, stress, and hyper awareness and ability to focus/learn. Having too much dopamine in the wrong place can make you psychotic or be prone to experience addictive tendencies.
|
|
|
|
-Dopamine is an important brain chemical that influences your mood and feelings of reward, motivation and
helps regulate body movements.
-Levels are generally well regulated by the body, but there are a few diet and lifestyle changes you can make to boost your levels naturally. A balanced diet that contains adequate protein, vitamins and minerals, probiotics and a
moderate amount of saturated fat can help your
body produce the dopamine it needs!
-Lifestyle choices are also SO important. Get enough sleep, exercise, regularly, listen to music, replace addictive behaviours with healthy habits, social interactions, meditating and spending time in the sun are all examples that can boost dopamine levels.
|
|
|
|
Both healthy and unhealthy cues modulate dopamine levels, and our body responds in various ways to balance it — the balance of dopamine levels is a sign of good health.
Overall, a balanced diet and lifestyle can go a long way in increasing your body’s natural production of dopamine and helping your brain function at its optimal capacity!
|
|
|
|
Dopamine Detox: Ultimate Productivity
|
|
Fitness Classes Coming Up...
Thursday Pound: The Rockout Workout 6:15- 6:45 PM
&
Yoga: Vinyasa Flow 7:00-8:00 PM
Saturday Spin and Stretch 8:30 - 9:30 AM (FULL)
---> Register for future fitness classes on our website! Classes running weekly available virtually or in-studio; pound, spin, yoga & meditation!
|
|
|
Thank-you for subscribing to Cedar Wellness Studio!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
