What Does Dopamine Do, and How Does It Influence Behavior?

Dopamine is one type of neurotransmitter, which is a chemical in the brain that sends messages between different brain cells. Dopamine plays a role in movement, motivation, and the experience of pleasure, as well as emotions. 

Read on to learn more about dopamine, the effect of substances on dopamine, and how you can boost your dopamine naturally.

What is the function of dopamine?

Dopamine plays an important function in the brain’s “reward response.”

Scientists call dopamine the “teaching chemical” because it’s involved in the reward circuit of the brain. When you do something enjoyable, like watch a comedy, your brain releases dopamine, causing you to feel good. The brain then remembers how this experience is rewarding and seeks it out again in the future. Scientists believe that dopamine is partially responsible for us repeating behaviors or activities that are pleasurable.

But dopamine affects many other parts of the body, too. Dopamine functions to support:

• Coordinating movement in the muscles and intestines 

• Regulating the sleep cycle and feeling of alertness

• Blood sugar control and insulin release

• Breast milk production 

• Blood pressure control by signaling blood vessels to open or close

How does dopamine make you feel?

Dopamine makes you feel happy and motivated. It’s responsible for the pleasurable feelings you experience when you do a rewarding activity, like hug a loved one or eat a piece of chocolate. That’s why it’s sometimes referred to as the “happy hormone” or the “feel-good chemical.” 

Changes in dopamine levels are linked to several medical conditions including:

• Depression 

• Schizophrenia

• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

• Binge eating

• Addiction

• Parkinson’s disease

• Tardive dyskinesia

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When is dopamine released?

Dopamine is released from cells when the brain needs to send signals to other parts of the body. When most people think about dopamine release, they’re thinking about the release that happens during pleasurable activities.

Dopamine is released when you engage in a pleasurable activity. For example, dopamine is released when you:

• Eat tasty foods

• Play video games

• Exercise

• Listen to music

• Spend time with a loved one

• Have sex

Drugs and alcohol also cause a surge of dopamine in the brain. The amount of dopamine that’s released is much larger than when you engage in other activities. This helps explain why drugs and alcohol are powerfully reinforcing and even addicting for some people.

How can you increase your dopamine?

Hearing about the pleasurable effects of dopamine may lead you to wonder how you can stimulate more dopamine in your brain. The following actions may help promote a healthy level of dopamine:

• Eating a balanced diet: This consists of fruits, vegetables, protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. Certain foods, like bananas, apples, avocados, oranges, spinach, and peas, also contain dopamine. There’s no clear evidence that eating these specific foods will instantly increase your dopamine levels. But they’re a part of a balanced diet, which can contribute to better physical and mental health. 

• Taking vitamins and supplements: These include certain vitamins and supplements, such as vitamin D, magnesium, and omega-3s. 

• Getting enough sleep and rest: Aim for at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night and limit the amount of caffeine you drink or eat. 

• Getting physical activity: Exercise or engage in other physical activities like walking, yoga, or playing sports.

• Being mindful: Practice mindfulness and meditation. 

• Taking care of yourself: This includes doing positive and relaxing activities, such as getting a massage or talking with a loved one.

• Maintaining a positive mindset: Reflecting on your strengths and practicing gratitude are powerful exercises to stay positive. 

What are some factors that decrease dopamine and how to fix them?

Scientists have found that certain habits are linked to lower dopamine levels. But it’s not clear if these things directly cause low dopamine levels in the body. The following factors have been linked to changes in dopamine levels

High levels of stress

Chronic exposure to stress is linked to dopamine dysfunction, or an imbalance in the amount of dopamine in the brain. In these cases, dopamine systems also influence the release of other neurotransmitters, which further affects how the body responds to and copes with stress. 

Drug use

Using certain substances may initially increase dopamine levels, which causes a feeling of pleasure and euphoria, known as a “high.” However, over time drug use can alter how the brain responds to normal fluctuations in dopamine, and some substances can also damage dopamine-releasing neurons. 

How to promote healthy dopamine levels

To help promote healthy dopamine levels be sure to:

• Take steps to manage your stress each day.

• Avoid or limit your use of drugs and alcohol. If you’re struggling to quit or cut back, seek professional help. 

• Maintain a balanced diet, and limit your consumption of sugar and saturated fats. Speak with your doctor or a nutritionist for more guidance on what would be a balanced diet for you.

• Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep a day and seek help from a professional if you think you may have a sleep disorder. 

How do drugs affect dopamine levels?

Some recreational drugs increase dopamine levels in the brain. When a person uses certain recreational drugs, a surge of dopamine is released, causing pleasurable sensations and euphoria. 

Scientists believe that dopamine helps explain why people continue to repeat certain activities, like using recreational drugs, even though it may be causing them problems. For example, some people may continue using drugs or alcohol even though it affects their physical and mental health, relationships, and work. 

When dopamine is released after using a substance, it alters the neural connectivity in the brain. This causes the person to repeat the action — in this case, using a drug — over and over again. This can lead to the development of an addiction. 

When a person has an addiction, they continue to use a substance or engage in a behavior even though it causes problems in their life. Over time, substance use also causes changes to the brain that may make it more difficult to find pleasure in other things, like food or socializing. 

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Written by:

Emily Guarnotta, PsyD

Emily Guarnotta, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and certified perinatal mental health professional with over 10 years of clinical experience.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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If you or someone you know struggles with substance use, help is available. Call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 to learn about resources in your area.