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Why We Take Risks? It's the Dopamine Dummy

time.com — If risk-taking behavior looks like addiction, there may be a biological reason for that: both behaviors involve the brain's feel-good chemical, dopamine.

Who dugg this? Made popular Jan 5, 2009

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  • JamesBondJr, on 01/04/2009, -1/+21That, and I remember reading something here that said 75% of males do extreme activities to impress girls - #1 reason. sounds logical
  • TheBuzzKiller, on 01/05/2009, -1/+15Dueling is legal in Paraguay as long as both parties are registered blood donors.
  • justrasputin, on 01/04/2009, -2/+14Dopamine isn't just a "feel-good" neurotransmitter: dopamine is also the neurotransmitter used to mediate brain activity leading to voluntary motion in the substantia nigra. Parkinson's, for example, leads to loss of dopamine activity, which is why advanced parkinson's patients have a very difficult time initiating voluntary movement; I feel that this activity of dopamine might also be very related.
  • justrasputin, on 01/05/2009, -0/+8You've missed the point of the article completely. They are "amazing" experiences because we feel the emotion attached to "that was amazing," which is in turn, according to this work, an emotion that is created by the release of dopamine. There is no separation between biology and cognition, which most people cannot even wrap their heads around.
  • inactive, on 01/05/2009, -3/+10Why We Take Cocaine? It's the Dopamine Dummy
  • inactive, on 01/05/2009, -0/+5They already do... it's called adderall or dexedrine.
  • elliotys, on 01/05/2009, -0/+2You make a good point. Its really only dopamine release in "specific parts" of the brain that produce a pleasurable effect.
  • werries, on 01/05/2009, -3/+5cocaine's a hell of a drug.
  • TypeEE, on 01/05/2009, -0/+1turns out the name of the pill is Orgara.
  • whoreable, on 01/05/2009, -0/+1see Awakenings
  • firebat9er, on 01/05/2009, -0/+1see appendix B tbl. 2
  • pumacub, on 01/05/2009, -4/+5Or maybe some risks are worth taking because they're amazing experiences.
  • jasdf, on 01/05/2009, -0/+1I'm a total introvert, but I guess that is just the way it is.
  • jasdf, on 01/05/2009, -2/+3I must not have any Dopamine, I am the most restrained person that I know of.
  • HairyPoter, on 01/05/2009, -0/+1dopamine + suicidal tendencies + lunacy + secret desire of self destruction = ***** risking his life for nothing.
  • justrasputin, on 01/05/2009, -0/+1see L-DOPA
  • lucutus, on 01/05/2009, -2/+2Addiciton? Doesn't everyone think its a lot of fun to get high, have unprotected group sex, and go cliff diving in the dark?
  • Miloboy5, on 01/05/2009, -1/+1Yeah Vanderbilt!
  • xptoast, on 01/05/2009, -1/+1So that is why it is exhilarating to go up to hot girls at bars you don't know. Even if you get shot down it was a blast during the trip there and back.
  • Ragone, on 01/05/2009, -1/+1For your health
  • jumkua, on 01/05/2009, -1/+1How should we do?
  • xhazerdusx, on 01/05/2009, -2/+2They should just develop dopamine pills. I wonder how that would turn out?
  • xptoast, on 01/05/2009, -1/+1I was an introvert. Then I got bored of being home all by myself and thinking about how alone I was going to be when I was old and without social skills.
  • elliotys, on 01/05/2009, -1/+1I'm actually a fan of all the catecholamines.
  • Jarrane, on 01/05/2009, -0/+0If you're feeling ambitious, you might find Hans Eysenck's work on introversion interesting.
  • justrasputin, on 01/05/2009, -0/+0Specifically the amygdala/hippocampal area, if I remember correctly. I got a B on that exam, so I might be a bit off.
  • Tollan, on 01/05/2009, -0/+0I must be high on dopamine-regulating receptors as skydiving did f all for me.
  • peterjmag, on 01/05/2009, -1/+1@brizz614: Calm down, douche nozzle. I think TheBuzzKiller's tidbit is pretty interesting.
  • t0x2c, on 01/05/2009, -1/+1Dugg for substantia nigra.
  • Garmonbozzia, on 01/05/2009, -3/+2So that's why I habitually jump out of airplanes? I just thought it was because it's fun as hell.
  • kmcurr, on 01/05/2009, -3/+2Scientists have just now discovered humans like doing things that make them feel good.
  • Once908, on 01/05/2009, -1/+0Was probably on the onion =p
  • maxpower2911, on 01/05/2009, -6/+4Hi my name is Ashley and I am addicted to dopamine.
  • inactive, on 01/05/2009, -4/+1Tell me something I don't know.
  • whoreable, on 01/05/2009, -4/+1Actually you are wrong....it is the serotonin.
  • inactive, on 01/05/2009, -7/+3This still does not explain why Soulja Boy is still alive, even after being robbed at gun point. Oh, and I also welcome our new dopamine overlords.
  • inactive, on 01/05/2009, -9/+1***** off

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