Definitions for dopamine
ˈdoʊ pəˌmindopamine

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. dopamine, Dopastat, Intropinnoun

   a monoamine neurotransmitter found in the brain and essential for the normal functioning of the central nervous system; as a drug (trade names Dopastat and Intropin) it is used to treat shock and hypotension

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. dopaminenoun

   A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention, learning, and the brain's pleasure and reward system.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Dopamine

   Dopamine (DA, a contraction of 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) is a neuromodulatory molecule that plays several important roles in cells. It is an organic chemical of the catecholamine and phenethylamine families. Dopamine constitutes about 80% of the catecholamine content in the brain. It is an amine synthesized by removing a carboxyl group from a molecule of its precursor chemical, L-DOPA, which is synthesized in the brain and kidneys. Dopamine is also synthesized in plants and most animals. In the brain, dopamine functions as a neurotransmitter—a chemical released by neurons (nerve cells) to send signals to other nerve cells. Neurotransmitters are synthesized in specific regions of the brain, but affect many regions systemically. The brain includes several distinct dopamine pathways, one of which plays a major role in the motivational component of reward-motivated behavior. The anticipation of most types of rewards increases the level of dopamine in the brain, and many addictive drugs increase dopamine release or block its reuptake into neurons following release. Other brain dopamine pathways are involved in motor control and in controlling the release of various hormones. These pathways and cell groups form a dopamine system which is neuromodulatory.In popular culture and media, dopamine is often portrayed as the main chemical of pleasure, but the current opinion in pharmacology is that dopamine instead confers motivational salience; in other words, dopamine signals the perceived motivational prominence (i.e., the desirability or aversiveness) of an outcome, which in turn propels the organism's behavior toward or away from achieving that outcome.Outside the central nervous system, dopamine functions primarily as a local paracrine messenger. In blood vessels, it inhibits norepinephrine release and acts as a vasodilator (at normal concentrations); in the kidneys, it increases sodium excretion and urine output; in the pancreas, it reduces insulin production; in the digestive system, it reduces gastrointestinal motility and protects intestinal mucosa; and in the immune system, it reduces the activity of lymphocytes. With the exception of the blood vessels, dopamine in each of these peripheral systems is synthesized locally and exerts its effects near the cells that release it. Several important diseases of the nervous system are associated with dysfunctions of the dopamine system, and some of the key medications used to treat them work by altering the effects of dopamine. Parkinson's disease, a degenerative condition causing tremor and motor impairment, is caused by a loss of dopamine-secreting neurons in an area of the midbrain called the substantia nigra. Its metabolic precursor L-DOPA can be manufactured; Levodopa, a pure form of L-DOPA, is the most widely used treatment for Parkinson's. There is evidence that schizophrenia involves altered levels of dopamine activity, and most antipsychotic drugs used to treat this are dopamine antagonists which reduce dopamine activity. Similar dopamine antagonist drugs are also some of the most effective anti-nausea agents. Restless legs syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are associated with decreased dopamine activity. Dopaminergic stimulants can be addictive in high doses, but some are used at lower doses to treat ADHD. Dopamine itself is available as a manufactured medication for intravenous injection: although it cannot reach the brain from the bloodstream, its peripheral effects make it useful in the treatment of heart failure or shock, especially in newborn babies.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. dopamine

   Dopamine is a type of neurotransmitter, a chemical released by neurons (nerve cells) to send signals to other nerve cells. It plays several important roles in the human brain and body, including in the regulation of movement, mood and motivation. Dopamine dysfunction or imbalances are implicated in several disorders including Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and addiction.

WikidataRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Dopamine

   Dopamine is a simple organic chemical in the catecholamine and phenethylamine families that plays a number of important roles in the brains and bodies of animals. Its name derives from its chemical structure: it is an amine that is formed by removing a carboxyl group from a molecule of L-DOPA. In the brain, dopamine functions as a neurotransmitter—a chemical released by nerve cells to send signals to other nerve cells. The brain includes several distinct dopamine systems, one of which plays a major role in reward-motivated behavior. Every type of reward that has been studied increases the level of dopamine in the brain, and a variety of addictive drugs, including stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine, act by amplifying the effects of dopamine. Other brain dopamine systems are involved in motor control and in controlling the release of several important hormones. Several important diseases of the nervous system are associated with dysfunctions of the dopamine system. Parkinson's disease, a degenerative condition causing tremor and motor impairment, is caused by loss of dopamine-secreting neurons in the midbrain area called the substantia nigra. There is evidence that schizophrenia involves altered levels of dopamine activity, and the antipsychotic drugs that are frequently used to treat it have a primary effect of attenuating dopamine activity. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and restless legs syndrome are also believed to be associated with decreased dopamine activity.

U.S. National Library of MedicineRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. Dopamine

   One of the catecholamine NEUROTRANSMITTERS in the brain. It is derived from TYROSINE and is the precursor to NOREPINEPHRINE and EPINEPHRINE. Dopamine is a major transmitter in the extrapyramidal system of the brain, and important in regulating movement. A family of receptors (RECEPTORS, DOPAMINE) mediate its action.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. dopamine

   A type of neurotransmitter created within the brain and body of an animal or human being.

   Dopamine is produced and transmitted in the human body, microorganisms and a variety of plants, fruit and vegetables.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on January 24, 2016  

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. dopamine

   Song lyrics by dopamine -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by dopamine on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Monoamine Neurotransmitter

How to pronounce dopamine?

1. Alex

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How to say dopamine in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of dopamine in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of dopamine in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of dopamine in a Sentence

1. Julie Schweitzer:

   Movement boosts arousal, which then increases attention. It likely occurs for tasks and situations that are either too boring or challenging, the movement likely increases noradrenergic and/or dopamine functioning in the brain, which then enhances attention to the target stimuli.

2. Anna Lembke:

   Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, we can verifiably show that human connections stimulate dopamine release, which is how they are reinforcing, and anything that stimulates dopamine in the brain's reward pathway has the potential to be addictive.

3. Anna Lembke:

   With repeated exposure over time, we essentially enter a chronic dopamine deficit state, which is akin to clinical depression.

4. Steve Dean:

   It becomes like an addiction to novelty without substance, when you get a match with someone, it literally gives you a boost of dopamine, and you think, There’s no cost to continuing to play. The dating apps know this, and they are exploiting the shit out of our reward pathways to make sure that we’re always coming back.

5. Amit Sen:

   There are reward systems in the brain. It is a dopamine kick. When you are winning in a game, you get a dopamine kick. If you are doing cocaine, you get the same kick.

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References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=dopamine
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Dopamine
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=dopamine