What is meant by calling dopamine the ‘Kim kardashian of neurotransmitters’?
• Vaughn Bell (2013) suggested that dopamine is overhyped and oversimplified in media, being blamed for addiction, when in reality, other brain systems also play a role
How does dopamine relate to fear and aversion?
• Dopamine does not only create pleasure; it is also involved in avoiding negative experiences
• supporting evidence: Liberzon et Al (1999) found increased NAC activation in PTSDwar veterans when exposed to combat sounds, suggesting dopamine is also involved in processing fearful memories
Why does this challenge the traditional view of dopamine?
• it suggests dopamine is not just a ‘pleasure chemical’ but plays a broader role in motivation, learning, and avoidance of danger
