Because here's the tricky aspect of dopamine: Our brains can start to predict when dopamine spikes are imminent, Lembke explains. We identify signals in the environment that point to it.

“Dopamine allows neurons to communicate with each other,” says Anthony Rostain, M.D., ... that cause a dopamine spike that we should allow ourselves to experience. ...

The theory is that by abstaining from certain activities or any bad habits that spike our dopamine levels, we can sort of recalibrate our brains and help reset our body’s natural dopamine levels.

When something better than expected happens, dopamine spikes, reinforcing behaviors that lead to the reward. If things go worse, dopamine activity drops, discouraging that behavior. 2.

A dopamine detox aims to eliminate access to any activity that drives instant gratification or impulsive behavior: endless scrolling, mindless eating, and more.

Mood swings aren't just personal; they shape leadership decisions, emotional control, and how top leaders rise or fall under ...

In her book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, Anna Lembke, a psychiatrist at Stanford University School of Medicine, calls the smartphone “the modern-day hypodermic ...