Swedish scientists from Umeå University studied the role of the neurotransmitter dopamine in learning. It turned out that the substance helps to quickly adapt to new conditions. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Nature Communications (NatComms).
Dopamine plays a role in transmitting nerve impulses in the brain. The hormone is associated with feelings of love and affection, as well as feelings of satisfaction and anticipation, which is why it is called the “happiness hormone.” Dopamine also affects thinking and memory.
The new study involved 26 people who did not have neurological or psychiatric conditions, drug or alcohol addiction, or other conditions that could affect brain imaging.
Volunteers completed a computer task while taking brain scans using two advanced techniques: positron emission tomography and functional magnetic resonance imaging.
During the test, participants had to guess the hidden numbers, and in some cases the correct answer was thought to be an option greater than five, and in others it was the opposite. Rules were changed without the knowledge of the subjects, creating periods of stability and instability. People received prizes for correct answers.
Brain scans showed increased activity in the striatum, a region of the brain known for its role in dopamine production. Scientists found that the release of the “happiness hormone” increases when switching from fixed rules to variable rules.
Dopamine release was related to participants’ ability to adapt their decisions based on new information; higher dopamine levels were associated with faster adaptation and better task performance.
It also turned out that people who were more sensitive to their mistakes received more dopamine. However, high doses of the “happiness hormone” did not guarantee optimal test results; Participants with average levels of neurotransmitter synthesis performed best.
The discovery will help better understand the role of dopamine in making various decisions, the researchers said.
Previous scientists I learnedDopamine causes the brain to react faster during exercise.
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Source: Gazeta
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