Context:
This article explores how dopamine, the brain’s “feel-good” chemical, has become a double-edged sword in the modern era. Once a natural motivator for survival and productivity, dopamine is now being hijacked by technology, social media, and addictive behaviors, negatively impacting mental health.
Key Highlights / Details
What is Dopamine?
- A neurotransmitter linked with motivation, reward, and pleasure.
- Released in response to positive stimuli—food, achievements, social interactions.
- Works through the mesolimbic pathway, especially between the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the nucleus accumbens.
From Survival to Addiction
- Originally reinforced constructive human behaviors.
- Addictive substances like alcohol, nicotine, and cocaine hijack dopamine circuits, causing overload.
- Leads to desensitisation — requiring higher stimulation to feel normal → addiction cycle begins.
Technology as the New Dopamine Trigger
- Social media likes, notifications, gaming, and binge-watching act like micro-doses of dopamine.
- Algorithms deliver intermittent rewards similar to slot machine behavior loops.
- fMRI studies show similar brain activation patterns in digital addiction and substance use.
- Leads to:
- Compulsive checking behaviour
- Anxiety and withdrawal
- Reduced attention span
- Emotional instability
Impact on Adolescents
- Teenagers are most vulnerable due to ongoing brain development.
- 3+ hours of daily screen time is linked to higher anxiety and depression.
- Excessive digital use reshapes reward circuits → low motivation & dopamine fatigue.
- Normal activities feel boring, reducing baseline happiness.
Reclaiming Dopamine Balance (Solutions)
| Strategy | Effect |
| Dopamine fasting – reducing screen time | Resets dopamine sensitivity |
| Mindfulness & meditation | Improves emotional regulation |
| Physical activity | Releases healthy dopamine |
| Deep work & learning skills | Builds long-term reward pathways |
| Meaningful relationships | Natural serotonin-dopamine balance |
| Sleep & good nutrition | Stabilises brain chemistry |
| Digital hygiene – greyscale screen, app limits | Reduces overstimulation |
Relevant Prelims Points
- Neurotransmitter: Chemical messenger of brain (others include serotonin, GABA, acetylcholine).
- Mesolimbic pathway: Brain’s reward centre.
- Behavioural addiction: Recognised in DSM-5 (e.g. gaming disorder).
- fMRI (Functional MRI): Measures brain activity using blood flow.
Relevant Mains Points
- Link between technology and mental health disorders.
- Neuroplasticity and behavioural conditioning.
- Ethical concerns over algorithm-driven addiction.
- Impact on youth productivity and society.
- Health as a multidimensional concept—WHO mental well-being focus.