The dopamine is a neurotransmitter : a substance that, in the nervous synapse, is responsible for transmitting impulses. Synapse , on the other hand, is the name that receives the connection established by two neurons.
Derived from a amino acid called dopa (which, in turn, comes from the tyrosine ), the dopamine It acts on the basal ganglia found at the base of the brain. Its chemical formula is C6H3 (OH) 2-CH2-CH2-NH2, while its abbreviation is DA.
The functions that dopamine develops in the brain are numerous. Cognition, sleep, motivation, Attention , humor and motor activity depend, in part, on the presence and functioning of this neurotransmitter.
It is important to know that dopamine is released when you have sex, when you are exercising or when we are eating an exquisite product.
Some curious facts about the functions or influences of dopamine are the following:
-Different studies carried out have come to indicate that dopamine greatly influences the personality of an individual. And you can determine if you are braver or less, more or less shy ...
-The memory is greatly influenced by dopamine because it comes to indicate if information that has been retained should remain for a while or should disappear.
-People who are more motivated have more dopamine in their body.
-It is established that people who are overweight or obese have fewer dopamine receptors in what is their nervous system.
- Several studies carried out in recent years have made it clear that people who have great creativity are people who have a lower density of dopamine receptors in what is thalamus.
-People who, when they are teenagers, enjoy living experiences and activities related to risk is because they have more dopamine in certain areas of their brain.
The biosynthesis Dopamine develops in the brain and adrenal glands. Those neurons that have dopamine as the primary neurotransmitter are known as dopaminergic neurons .
When deficient biosynthesis of dopamine occurs in dopaminergic neurons, the person may suffer from Parkinson's disease . This disorder causes muscle stiffness, tremors and slow movement development. For the treatment of Parkinson's disease, a dopamine precursor called levodopa is usually given.
It should be noted that a very high level of dopamine in the body is usually linked to mental problems such as schizophrenia and the psychosis . This is because drugs like the cocaine and the amphetamines They increase the level of dopamine and cause psychotic symptoms. On the contrary, the phenothiazines They allow blocking dopamine receptors and help minimize these types of symptoms.
It is considered that there are a number of foods that are rich in dopamine and that it is worth taking into account. In this case, we are referring, for example, to bananas, legumes, green beans and even tomatoes.
