Dopamine and its functions

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter (or chemical messenger) and “feel good

hormone” that sends messages between nerve cells in the brain. It binds to
receptors in the brain, making them send signals from one cell to another..
This causes cellular changes that can affect your well-being in a number of
ways.
It plays an important role in many everyday behaviors, including how we
move, feel and eat. It helps us regulate movement and supports reward
regulations in the brain.
Research also highlights that dopamine receptors are found in the kidneys,
pancreas, lungs and blood vessels outside the central nervous system.
To make dopamine, an amino acid called tyrosine changes into precursor
dopa, a compound found in nervous tissue, and then into dopamine. It’s
produced in three parts of the brain: the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental
area and hypothalamus of the brain.
A common question is “what’s the difference between serotonin vs.
dopamine?” Both are neurotransmitters, but serotonin functions as a mood
regulator, while dopamine is connected to the “pleasure center.”
In moments of pleasure and reward, we get a rush of dopamine, and when
levels are too low, we feel a lack of motivation and feelings of helplessness.
The brain’s reward system is strongly linked to dopamine. The
neurotransmitter functions to promote feelings of enjoyment and
reinforcement, which leads to motivation.
Function

It’s made in the brain through a two-step process. First, it changes the
amino acid tyrosine to a substance called dopa, and then into dopamine.
It affects many parts of your behavior and physical functions, such as:
 Learning
 Motivation
 Heart rate
 Blood vessel function
 Kidney function
 Lactation
 Sleep
 Mood
 Attention
 Control of nausea and vomiting
 Pain processing
 Movement
Role in Mental Health
Role in Mental Health
Dopamine is considered an essential element in the brain reward system.
Although dopamine neurons account for less than 1 percent of the total
neuron count in the brain, research suggests that this neurotransmitter does
have a profound effect on brain function and mental health.
This is called dopamine dysfunction, and it indicates that the neurotransmitter
isn’t interacting with receptors in the brain properly.
When this hormone is produced normally in the body, we don’t even notice it
— the body (and mind) functions as it should. But when levels become too
high or too low, that’s when our behavioral and physical functions are
impacted.
This “feel good hormone” is involved in reward-related incentive learning,
and it modulates behavioral choices, especially reward-seeking behaviors.
Studies also indicate that several mental health disorders involve these
pleasure responses from neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine.
For instance, a chemical change in the brain drives addictive behaviors,
causing mental health issues like:
  eating disorders
 self-injury
 compulsive sex behaviors
 internet gaming addiction
 gambling
There’s also a clear relationship between depression and dopamine
deficiency, according to animal and human studies. Dopamine levels that are
too low may also cause issues including:
 fatigue
 trouble focusing
 mood changes
 insomnia and sleep disturbances
 anxiety
 lack of motivation
 feelings of guilt and hopelessness
Abnormal dopamine levels (either too high or too low) are also linked to
many pathological disorder, including:
 Schizophrenia
 Tourette’s syndrome
 Parkinson’s disease
 Alzheimer’s disease
 Huntington’s disease
 Autism
 Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
 Drug abuse
Because dopamine receptors directly regulate the neurotransmission of other
neurotransmitters, research shows that a dysfunction can lead to issues with
motor activity and neurological function.