The Neuroscience of Pleasure and Pain

This chapter explores the scientific backdrop of the book 'Dopamine Nation' and highlights important scientific discoveries related to dopamine and the brain's preference for balance between pleasure and pain. It discusses how repeated exposure to pleasurable behaviors can lead to a decrease in dopamine production, causing an obsessive focus on seeking those experiences. The chapter also examines the relationship between pursuing happiness, experiencing a chronic dopamine deficit, and the increased risk of addiction.