Dopaminergic neurons are more related to learning than feeling good.
There are some extra-synaptic neuro messenger molecules like enkephalin that reduce pain and increase feel-good but they hit opioid receptors and they are boring peptides so they don’t get TED talks.
I’m a little confused. I had always read about dopamine as “the reward chemical” like in the link.
I imagine things are more complicated than that like you alluded to but I had always seen it written as a key part of the brain’s reward system and so makes sense to mention in the context of rewards in games.
Dopaminergic neurons are more related to learning than feeling good.
There are some extra-synaptic neuro messenger molecules like enkephalin that reduce pain and increase feel-good but they hit opioid receptors and they are boring peptides so they don’t get TED talks.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/dopamine-the-pathway-to-pleasure
I’m a little confused. I had always read about dopamine as “the reward chemical” like in the link.
I imagine things are more complicated than that like you alluded to but I had always seen it written as a key part of the brain’s reward system and so makes sense to mention in the context of rewards in games.