AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Detox Isn't Removing Dopamine
- Dopamine detox is misunderstood online and is not about removing dopamine from the brain.
- The real goal is to reset reward circuitry and receptor sensitivity, not empty neurotransmitters.
Dopamine Drives Wanting, Not Pleasure
- Dopamine mainly reinforces behavior (wanting) rather than producing pleasure (liking).
- A dominance of mesolimbic over mesocortical circuits makes planning and long-term goals hard to execute.
Effort Calculation Shapes Choices
- The anterior cingulate cortex computes effort and compares effort vs reward for actions.
- When dopamine circuits are altered it biases choices toward low-effort, low-reward options.