What Does "Dopamine" Mean in English?
Dopamine is a chemical messenger (neurotransmitter) in the brain that plays a key role in how we feel pleasure, stay motivated, and learn from rewards.
Pronunciation: /ˈdoʊ.pə.miːn/ (DOH-puh-meen)
Key Functions of Dopamine
- Regulates mood and emotional responses
- Drives motivation and goal-directed behavior
- Helps control movement (low levels are linked to Parkinson’s disease)
- Reinforces learning through reward signals
Example Sentences
• “Listening to your favorite song can trigger a release of dopamine.”
• “Dopamine isn’t just about pleasure—it’s also crucial for focus and decision-making.”
• “Many addictive substances hijack the brain’s dopamine system.”
Fun Fact
Dopamine was first synthesized in 1910 by George Barger and James Ewens at Wellcome Laboratories in London—but its role in the brain wasn’t discovered until the 1950s!