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How to Increase Motivation & Drive

Huberman Lab

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The Dual Nature of Dopamine

Dopamine plays a complex dual role in human behavior, acting not only as a driver of pleasure but also as a motivator that reinforces the pursuit of experiences. Initially, dopamine induces a surge in pleasure, but with repeated exposure to a rewarding experience, the sensation of pleasure diminishes while the associated pain or craving often intensifies. This cycle illustrates that much of the pursuit of pleasure is rooted in a desire to alleviate the pain of craving rather than purely to attain pleasure itself. Particularly in contexts like drug use, individuals may feel an overwhelming release of dopamine the first time they partake in a substance, leading to an enjoyable experience. However, subsequent encounters yield less satisfaction while significantly increasing the pain and craving. This insight highlights that dopamine should be understood not merely as a pleasure chemical but as a crucial element in motivation, driving individuals to seek out repeated experiences to mitigate the uncomfortable feelings generated by desire and addiction.

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