Dopamine
Molecule of the Month
What is Dopamine?
Dopamine is a vital neurotransmitter and neuromodulator that plays a central molecular role in how the brain communicates, adapts, and regulates behaviour.
It’s often called the “feel-good” chemical, but its role goes far beyond pleasure — it’s essential for movement, motivation, and learning.
How Dopamine Works?
Synthesised from the amino acid tyrosine, dopamine acts by binding to specific receptors (D1–D5) on neurons. This triggers intracellular signalling cascades that influence:
· Neuronal excitability
· Synaptic plasticity
· Gene expression
These processes help the brain stay flexible and responsive — adapting to new experiences and regulating behaviour.
Dopamine's Role in Everyday Function
Dopamine is crucial for:
· Movement
· Motivation
· Reward
· Attention
· Mood
· Learning
These are all essential processes for survival and adaptive behaviour — which is why dopamine is so central to brain health.
The Brain's Reward System
Dopamine helps encode the brain’s “reward prediction” system, reinforcing actions that lead to pleasure or success.
It’s what drives us to repeat behaviours that feel good or help us achieve goals — like eating, socialising, or solving problems.
Dopamine Imbalances and Mental Health
Disruptions in dopamine signalling are linked to several major disorders:
· Parkinson’s disease → dopamine deficiency in the nigrostriatal pathway
· Schizophrenia → dysregulated mesolimbic transmission
· Depression → altered mesocortical activity
These pathways show how dopamine affects different brain regions — and why imbalances can lead to such varied symptoms.
Why Dopamine Matters
Dopamine’s molecular function as both a neurotransmitter and a regulator of neural plasticity makes it one of the brain’s most critical chemical messengers.
It’s not just about feeling good — it’s about how the brain learns, adapts, and stays balanced.
Written by Renee Curran
If you or someone you care about lives with ADHD, you’ve probably noticed how unpredictable things can feel, focus comes and goes, energy dips, moods swing. What’s often overlooked is how much nutrition can influence these patterns.
