ENGLISH
REFERENCE

dopamine

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US //ˈdɑpəˌmaɪn// UK //dˈɒpɐmˌiːn// dopamine

n. a chemical in your brain that makes you feel pleasure and motivation. You often feel a rush of it when you get a reward or achieve a goal.

n. a neurotransmitter that plays a central role in the brain's reward system, motor control, and executive function. It mediates the anticipation of pleasure rather than just the pleasure itself.


SIMPLE

Winning the game gave him a quick hit of dopamine.

CONTEXTUAL

Social media apps are designed to trigger dopamine releases through likes and notifications, keeping users engaged for longer periods.

COMPLEX

Research suggests that Parkinson's disease is primarily caused by the death of neurons that produce dopamine, leading to the characteristic tremors and loss of motor coordination.

Origin

From DOPA (“dihydroxyphenylalanine”) + -amine. Unrelated to dope.

Usage

Uncountable in its general biological sense; occasionally countable when referring to specific types of dopamine receptors or pathways.

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