dopamine
A neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward-seeking behavior. Online services are often designed to trigger its release, leading to addictive patterns.
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8/16/2025, 2:37:22 AM
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8/16/2025, 2:38:39 AM
Summary
Dopamine (DA), or 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine, is a crucial neuromodulatory molecule, catecholamine, and phenethylamine, synthesized in the brain, kidneys, plants, and most animals. In the brain, it functions as a neurotransmitter, playing vital roles in reward-motivated behavior, motor control, and hormone regulation. While commonly associated with pleasure, pharmacological understanding emphasizes its role in signaling motivational salience, guiding an organism's behavior towards or away from outcomes. Beyond the central nervous system, dopamine acts as a local messenger in various peripheral systems, regulating functions like vasodilation, sodium excretion, insulin production, and gastrointestinal motility. Dysfunctions in the dopamine system are implicated in severe neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease (due to loss of dopamine-secreting neurons) and schizophrenia (involving altered dopamine activity). It is also linked to restless legs syndrome and ADHD. Medications like Levodopa, dopamine antagonists, and dopaminergic stimulants target the dopamine system for therapeutic effects, and dopamine itself is used intravenously for conditions like severe heart failure and hypotension. In contemporary discussions, dopamine is also conceptualized as a driving force behind engagement on online platforms like Instagram, often contrasted with the serotonin-based connections of real life.
Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
InChI Key
VYFYYTLLBUKUHU-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Abbreviation
DA
Brain Content
Approximately 80% of catecholamine content
Classification
Neuromodulatory molecule, Catecholamine, Phenethylamine, Neurotransmitter, Hormone
Full Chemical Name
3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine
Synthesis Locations
Brain, Kidneys, Plants, Most Animals
Medical Applications
Treatment for Parkinson's (Levodopa), Antipsychotic drugs (dopamine antagonists), Anti-nausea agents (dopamine antagonists), ADHD treatment (dopaminergic stimulants), Severe heart failure, Cardiogenic shock, Hypotension, Septic shock (intravenous dopamine)
Peripheral Functions
Vasodilation (blood vessels), Sodium excretion (kidneys), Urine output (kidneys), Insulin production reduction (pancreas), Gastrointestinal motility reduction (digestive system), Intestinal mucosa protection (digestive system), Lymphocyte activity reduction (immune system)
Primary Brain Functions
Reward-motivated behavior, Motor control, Hormone regulation, Motivational salience, Memory, Mood, Attention
Popular Culture Portrayal
Main chemical of pleasure
Pharmacological Understanding
Confers motivational salience (signals perceived motivational prominence, desirability or aversiveness of an outcome)
Associated Diseases/Conditions (Dysfunction)
Parkinson's disease, Schizophrenia, Restless legs syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Severe heart failure, Cardiogenic shock, Hypotension (newborns), Septic shock (newborns)
Timeline
- Discussion on the All-In Podcast highlights 'dopamine-driven online platforms' like Instagram, contrasting them with 'serotonin-based connections' in the context of AI Psychosis and the loneliness epidemic, reflecting a contemporary societal understanding of dopamine's influence. (Source: Related Documents (d21d43bf-4b55-4adb-9584-8c298d6baf45))
2023-10-10
Wikipedia
View on WikipediaDopamine
Dopamine (DA, a contraction of 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) is a neuromodulatory molecule that plays several important roles in cells. It is an organic chemical of the catecholamine and phenethylamine families. It is an amine synthesized by removing a carboxyl group from a molecule of its precursor chemical, L-DOPA, which is synthesized in the brain and kidneys. Dopamine is also synthesized in plants and most animals. In the brain, dopamine functions as a neurotransmitter—a chemical released by neurons (nerve cells) to send signals to other nerve cells. The brain includes several distinct dopamine pathways, one of which plays a major role in the motivational component of reward-motivated behavior. The anticipation of most types of rewards increases the level of dopamine in the brain, and many addictive drugs increase dopamine release or block its reuptake into neurons following release. Other brain dopamine pathways are involved in motor control and in controlling the release of various hormones. These pathways and cell groups form a dopamine system which is neuromodulatory. In popular culture and media, dopamine is often portrayed as the main chemical of pleasure, but the current opinion in pharmacology is that dopamine instead confers motivational salience; in other words, dopamine signals the perceived motivational prominence (i.e., the desirability or aversiveness) of an outcome, which in turn propels the organism's behavior toward or away from achieving that outcome. Outside the central nervous system, dopamine functions primarily as a local paracrine messenger. In blood vessels, it inhibits norepinephrine release and acts as a vasodilator; in the kidneys, it increases sodium excretion and urine output; in the pancreas, it reduces insulin production; in the digestive system, it reduces gastrointestinal motility and protects intestinal mucosa; and in the immune system, it reduces the activity of lymphocytes. With the exception of the blood vessels, dopamine in each of these peripheral systems is synthesized locally and exerts its effects near the cells that release it. Several important diseases of the nervous system are associated with dysfunctions of the dopamine system, and some of the key medications used to treat them work by altering the effects of dopamine. Parkinson's disease, a degenerative condition causing tremor and motor impairment, is caused by a loss of dopamine-secreting neurons in an area of the midbrain called the substantia nigra. Its metabolic precursor L-DOPA can be manufactured; Levodopa, a pure form of L-DOPA, is the most widely used treatment for Parkinson's. There is evidence that schizophrenia involves altered levels of dopamine activity, and most antipsychotic drugs used to treat this are dopamine antagonists which reduce dopamine activity. Similar dopamine antagonist drugs are also some of the most effective anti-nausea agents. Restless legs syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are associated with decreased dopamine activity. Dopaminergic stimulants can be addictive in high doses, but some are used at lower doses to treat ADHD. Dopamine itself is available as a manufactured medication for intravenous injection. It is useful in the treatment of severe heart failure or cardiogenic shock. In newborn babies it may be used for hypotension and septic shock.
Web Search Results
- Dopamine
Dopamine (DA, a contraction of 3,4-d ihydr o xy p henethyl amine) is a neuromodulatorymolecule that plays several important roles in cells. It is an organic chemical of the catecholamine and phenethylamine families. Dopamine constitutes about 80% of the catecholamine content in the brain. It is an amine synthesized by removing a carboxyl group from a molecule of its precursor chemical "Precursor (chemistry)"), L-DOPA, which is synthesized in the brain and kidneys. Dopamine is also synthesized [...] Outside the central nervous system, dopamine functions primarily as a local paracrine messenger. In blood vessels, it inhibits norepinephrine release and acts as a vasodilator; in the kidneys, it increases sodium excretion and urine output; in the pancreas, it reduces insulin production; in the digestive system, it reduces gastrointestinal motility and protects intestinal mucosa; and in the immune system, it reduces the activity of lymphocytes. With the exception of the blood vessels, dopamine [...] InChI=1S/C8H11NO2/c9-4-3-6-1-2-7(10)8(11)5-6/h1-2,5,10-11H,3-4,9H2 Key:VYFYYTLLBUKUHU-UHFFFAOYSA-N
- Dopamine: What It Is, Function & Symptoms
Gray gradient Gray gradient Search Icon Blue Cleveland Clinic logo # Dopamine Dopamine is a neurotransmitter made in your brain. It plays a role as a “reward center” and in many body functions, including memory, movement, motivation, mood, attention and more. High or low dopamine levels are associated with diseases including Parkinson’s disease, restless legs syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Advertisement [...] Dopamine is a type of neurotransmitter and hormone. It plays a role in many important body functions, including movement, memory and pleasurable reward and motivation. High or low levels of dopamine are associated with several mental health and neurological diseases. Much research remains to be done to determine how dopamine works in relation to health conditions and how it interacts with other neurotransmitters, hormones and other chemicals. If you think you have symptoms of high or low levels [...] Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy ### What is dopamine? Dopamine is a type of monoamine neurotransmitter. It’s made in your brain and acts as a chemical messenger, communicating messages between nerve cells in your brain and the rest of your body. Advertisement
- Dopamine: What It Is & What It Does
Logo for WebMD # Dopamine: What It Is & What It Does ## What Is Dopamine? Dopamine is a hormone and a type of neurotransmitter, or chemical messenger, made in your brain. Your nervous system uses it to send messages between nerve cells. These messages also travel between your brain and the rest of your body. [...] Dopamine is a complex hormone and neurotransmitter that affects emotions, behavior, and movement. It plays a major role in how we feel pleasure, seek rewards, and stay motivated. Dopamine levels that are too high or too low cause mental and physical conditions like Parkinsonâs disease and schizophrenia. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about your dopamine levels. ## Dopamine FAQs [...] This unique neurotransmitter affects your body, brain, and behavior. Dopamine plays a role in how we feel pleasure and rewards. It's a big part of our unique human ability to think and plan. It helps us focus, work towards goals, and find things interesting. Like most other systems in the body, you donât notice it (or maybe even know about it) until thereâs a problem.
- Dopamine - Healthdirect
Error: This is required Error: Not a valid value Error: This is required ## Key facts ## On this page ## What is dopamine? Dopamine is a chemical messenger (neurotransmitter) that works in the brain. It helps nerve cells send messages to each other. It's produced by cells deep in the brain and acts on cells in other parts of the brain. ## What is the role of dopamine? [...] Dopamine acts on areas of the brain to give you feelings of pleasure, satisfaction and motivation. Dopamine also has a role to play in controlling memory, mood, sleep, learning, concentration, movement and other body functions. [...] When you feel good, for example, when you achieve something or do something fun, it's because you have an increase of dopamine in the brain. Sometimes, you might start wanting to feel more of this dopamine 'reward', which is how dopamine is involved in addiction. The good feeling that dopamine gives you after pleasant experiences, including eating nice food, having sex, winning a game and earning money can also happen after drinking alcohol and using illegal drugs. In addiction you continue to
- Dopamine: Functions, Signaling, and Association with Neurological ...
The dopaminergic system plays important roles in neuromodulation, such as motor control, motivation, reward, cognitive function, maternal, and reproductive behaviors. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, synthesized in both central nervous system and the periphery, that exerts its actions upon binding to G protein-coupled receptors. Dopamine receptors are widely expressed in the body and function in both the peripheral and the central nervous systems. Dopaminergic signaling pathways are crucial to [...] the maintenance of physiological processes and an unbalanced activity may lead to dysfunctions that are related to neurodegenerative diseases. Unveiling the neurobiology and the molecular mechanisms that underlie these illnesses may contribute to the development of new therapies that could promote a better quality of life for patients worldwide. In this review, we summarize the aspects of dopamine as a catecholaminergic neurotransmitter and discuss dopamine signaling pathways elicited through
Wikidata
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Location Data
Dopamine, Area A (Upper Flathead/Elk Valley), Regional District of East Kootenay, British Columbia, Canada
Coordinates: 49.4410125, -115.0397835
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