Theories Of Dopamine

This essay is going to demonstrate knowledge of neurotransmitters dopamine and show evidence to how it is a factor that influences behaviour of those who have high and low levels of dopamine in their system. This essay also looks into the theory of multiple motivations: hierarchy of needs and shows the relevance motivation has to dopamine. Variety of articles shows how dopamine is an influence on mental disorders such as psychopathic behaviours.

Neurotransmitters are neurons that create a specialised chemical that moves across the synapses of the brain, this result in the body being able to communicate using electrical signals to send messages and signals throughout our body. The body processes this information by using the lock-and-key
“High levels of dopamine could, in theory, allow a flood of thoughts and impulses to flow throughout the brain, leading to the hallucinations and delusions that are a hallmark of schizophrenia.” Adam Cloe, (2015.) [2] People who are schizophrenic show a number of behavioural traits such as, hallucinations, disorganised or emotional flatness and catatonic behaviour. Medication is used to treat schizophrenia the supplement used to block the dopamine receptors prevents a mass amount of messages through the brain. However, there are many disadvantages to using medication. Firstly its not a permanent solution, the body’s amphetamine builds resilience to the drug and preventing the receptors to be blocked. Also there are side effects of the drug that results into the patients having to stop taking it; for example gaining heart problems from gaining weight. Hallucinations are caused by substances changed someone’s awareness, causing a strong effect in sensory perception, these types of behaviour are influences by the dopamine levels in your brain indicating that it has a huge effect on
For example if you go through a pleasurable experience, dopamine influences the body to want to do the same thing. For example, if someone really enjoys coffee, it wont be a problem to walk the distance, as your body is motivated to feel satisfied. The theorist Maslow hierarchy of needs has five different types of needs; in order to fulfill all the needs motivation is needed in order to achieve the needs of all five. Maslow identified the strengths and weakness of the hierarchy and made them into a pyramid, unless these needs are satisfying, people find it difficult to generate motivation and engage in other behaviour’s. [6] Maslow’s theory is very comprehensive when it comes to human motivation, he explains that motivation is needed for each hierarchy otherwise none of the needs could be accomplished. Motivation is caused by how pleasurable or satisfactory the dopamine releases; therefor the higher the dopamine levels are the higher the