The Dance Of Chemicals

Since centuries scientists and philosophers have pondered much about the three pound organ on our head, the ‘human brain’. The brain is believed to be the primary differentiating factor that determines the superiority of humans among other species. With the advancement of scientific temperament, one of the key area of research was- “How does the mind function? how does it produce consciousness, the secrets of our intelligence and some of the other functions like emotions, pleasure, pain and addiction. Despite much scientific advancements and research, the answer to many of these questions is still open ended, as we don’t know in entirety, how mind operates. The little that we know is also much complicated to be surmised in a few pages and requires a discussion in highly medical parlance. Hence this article mainly focuses only on a few aspects of mind’s functions which would be most interesting for students to read, namely- feelings, emotions, pleasure, pain and addiction.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter (a chemical which transports information from one neuron to another in the brain) It is known as the ‘reward molecule’ and is also sometimes called as the ‘molecule of bliss’. It is the main neurochemical that incentivizes most of our life activities and keeps the passion in our life going. Without dopamine, you will lack the zeal to do anything, your social life and relationships will lose its ardour and your life will be devoid of enthusiasm, a condition commonly known as ‘depression’. Dopamine along with serotonin, endorphin and oxytocin are neurotransmitters that are the main chemical components of the ‘reward circuit’ in the brain. Whenever we do any delightful activity, even the most insignificant ones like having a slice of chocolate, receiving a compliment from someone or some of the most significant achievements of our lives, the brain releases dopamine, serotonin and sometimes endorphins which gives us the ‘feel-good’ experience. The feeling of bliss is the reward for the accomplishment or the performance of the delightful act. Thus, reward circuits are set up in the neural pathways and the brain rewards itself by releasing dopamine whenever we perform these acts. Chocolates, for example increases the levels of endorphins along with dopamine and serotonin, giving credence to the claim that chocolate is a comfort food as endorphin is a natural pain killer and works to lessen pain and decrease stress. Our brain registers, what kind of activity/situation produced the dopamine, serotonin and endorphins and thus it motivates us to repeat the act/situation more often to derive the ‘same bliss’. Let us now discuss some of the other roles of dopamine in important mind functions like memory, attention and the most adored of all- ‘LOVE’.

Studies have proven that dopamine secretions are directly linked to our memory. The levels of dopamine here are extremely delicate so even slight increases or decreases to the normal amount can cause the memory to suffer. Since dopamine affects our memory, it also affects the learning processes of our brain and how firmly information is retained. When dopamine is present during an event or experience, you will remember it, however, if dopamine is not present, you will easily forget it. As dopamine is tied to our reward centre, so if we don’t feel interested in specific activity, then dopamine levels will decrease and we will not feel the motivation to remember the facts presented to us. This explains why you tend to remember an event or an activity in great detail if you are interested in it and not otherwise. This is because the intensity of interest is a direct function of dopamine levels in your mind. Dopamine also plays a major role in ‘attention’. Since dopamine levels determine the intensity of interest, therefore it determines how focussed and attentive we are. Dopamine works by responding to vision, which causes us to direct our attention to any specific task, activity or event. Dopamine may also be responsible for what content stays in our short-term memory. When the dopamine concentration is too low, then this could lead to Attention Deficit Disorder.

After memory and attention, let us shift our focus to the most cherished of all attribute of humankind- ‘LOVE’. The chemistry of love is much complicated to be surmised in a few words but I will try my best to be as lucid as possible.

Dopamine and serotonin works in tandem with another neurotransmitter known as oxytocin which plays a major role in the process of love. Oxytocin is also known as the ‘bonding molecule’ as it is a hormone directly linked to human bonding and increasing trust and loyalty. Studies have been conducted to show that high levels of oxytocin are correlated with romantic attachment. Some studies show that if a couple is separated for a long period of time, the lack of physical contact reduces oxytocin and drives the feeling of longing to bond with that person again. But the impact of oxytocin is more pronounced on a woman than on a man. This is the reason why the chemistry of love operate differently in men and in women. Perhaps this also explains why men are given the notorious accolade of being more ‘adulterous’ in nature (thought it may be a myth) because the impact of oxytocin (which is responsible for bonding and emotional attachment) is less pronounced on a man than in a woman. (However oxytocin is not the only factor that determines infidelity in humans, there are other factors as well, therefore women may also be as much adulterous as a man.) But again, the bottom line is that skin-to-skin contact, affection, love making and intimacy are key to feeling happy which is reinforced by the collective action of dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. Actually oxytocin works in tandem with dopamine and serotonin to produce love, affection, intimacy, attention, pleasure and bliss.

Some of the most common statements of expressions that we use in our day to day colloquial conversations are- “this was amazing” , “ this is boring” , “that was terrible” etc. All the above three phrases convey contrasting expressions. The first one is an expression of joy, the second one conveys boredom and the third one covey an unpleasant emotion. but there is one thing that unifies all of them- the agent that causes it- ‘Dopamine’ !! (or the lack of it).

After all the eulogies that I enunciated about dopamine, you might as well think that dopamine is the elixir of life, the source of pleasure and happiness. But what if I tell you that the process of dopamine and serotonin action could also be the source of your deepest miseries, a sorrowful life and also depression. Till now I had listed some of the ‘angelic’ qualities of dopamine but since we live in a world of duality, there is always a dark side to everything bright, now it is time to list some of the ‘satanic’ attributes of dopamine as well.

Dopamine is also the molecule behind all our most sinful behaviours and secret cravings. Dopamine is lust, dopamine is addiction and is also the cause of alcoholism, gambling and drug abuse.

One of the most concerning issue for our society today is the pandemic of drug abuse and our youth is most prone in falling prey to these temptations. Drugs hijack into the brain’s communication system and tamper with the way neurons normally send, receive, and process information. The mechanism for drug action is different for different kinds of drugs but basically most drugs work either by imitating brains’ natural chemical messengers or by overstimulating the reward circuit of the brain.

After repeated drug use, the brain starts to adapt to the regular high levels of dopamine either by reducing the number of dopamine receptors or by simply making less dopamine. As the neurons get adapted to high levels of dopamine, the dopamine receptors are inhibited as a balancing step and hence their receptivity for moderate levels of dopamine is drastically reduced. Therefore the person no more feels any joy in normal day to day activities (which produces moderate levels of dopamine). Such a person loses the exuberance of life and the zeal to do the erstwhile gleeful activities like playing, socialising, eating etc., his relationships with family, friends and loved ones turns turmoil, he lacks the motivation to participate in any activity because he no more derives any enthusiasm from it and such a person slowly relegates into depression. He gets his ‘kick’ only from the dose of drug and nothing else. This triggers the process of acute drug-addiction.

We have realised in a scientific way that the very source of ‘bliss’, that we seek around in the whole world is actually within us. Outside circumstances may trigger it, but essentially the source of pleasure (dopamine and the other happy chemicals) is within us. With this realisation, it is imperative for us to use this knowledge to our advantage. But how?. Till now we know of two ways to produce dopamine (or bliss)- one is by consuming drugs and second, by doing simple life activities like playing, relationships or even by having a slice of chocolate. The first way, i.e the use of drugs should be strictly abstained as it is detrimental to the survival process of life itself. The second method, though is not harmful (beneficial in some case) is also somewhat ineffective as you have to depend on outside circumstances for your joy (you still need a slice of chocolate to be happy). Apart from these two ways, there are more effective ways to stay ‘blissed out’ independent of the outside circumstances or without any drug support. This is done by enhancing dopamine levels by natural processes like meditation, exercise, yoga, socialising with people and so on. Studies have shown that dopamine levels naturally increase and neurons become more receptive during meditation. Meditation, yoga, exercise , good relationships and a balanced life are key to stay ‘blissed out’ all the time irrespective of outside situations and without any substance(drugs). It is imperative for us to incorporate these habits in our daily routine so that we can get ‘high’ in life without getting ‘high’ on substance (drugs).

NILADRI MULLICK