Pleasure and Achievement: Dopamine and Endorphins

Abstract

Dopamine is a well-known chemical that brings happiness to people and is responsible for signaling excitement and happiness. Dopamine is not only a key regulator of learning and motivation, but also a core substance that regulates the human body. Depression and Parkinson's disease are often associated with a lack of dopamine. Moreover, smoking is addictive, and its main mechanism is also closely related to dopamine: nicotine can cause a burst of dopamine neurons. Another substance with similar effects to dopamine is endorphins. Endorphins attach to morphine receptors and cause the same pain alleviation and pleasure that morphine and other opiates do, similar to a sense of accomplishment. Endorphins bring pleasure, but also lead to drug abuse. Opiate addiction is a severe public health issue that affects a huge proportion of population. People who take drugs produce dopamine and endorphins, and their mental dependence on drugs far exceeds the benefits of dopamine and endorphins.