Dopamine Jackpot! Sapolsky on the Science of Pleasure

Robert Sapolsky, professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University, compares dopamine levels in monkeys and humans. Sapolsky argues that in both, "Dopamine is not about pleasure, it's about the anticipation of pleasure. It's about the pursuit of happiness." Unlike monkeys however, humans "keep those dopamine levels up for decades and decades waiting for the reward."

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Dr. Robert Sapolsky is a professor of Biology and Neurology at Stanford University. He is a research associate at the National Museums of Kenya. Dr. Sapolsky is the author of several works of nonfiction, including A Primate's Memoir, The Trouble with Testosterone, Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers and Monkeyluv: And Other Essays on Our Lives as Animals.

[nickirhododendron]

The key to lasting happiness: Psychological empowerment, the feeling of being needed, the feeling of connecting with others genuinely, giving help to others, feeling loved and respected, and most of all a feeling of having conquered an internal psychological obstacle. 

[woodeniron]

Perfect distinction: Dopamine is about belief in the reward.

[Dunning.Kruger]

He has extra brain hidden in the beard...

[aweinfinitebliss]

Explains perfectly why traders over trade, over leverage and do everything else that will result their accounts being blown. The pursuit of pleasure rather than happiness, success itself. Thus the reason we are led to play gambling in the markets instead of being focused and strategic in achieving profitability.

[WyattCayer]

It's like making drugs of pleasure illegal makes them more desirable. The uncertainty of having them makes people want them even more.

[andronicus]

I love it when science works to help us master our own clouded inner-space. This guys work is awesome.

[ExistentialistDasein]

"There's no monkey out there who's willing to lever-press all the time because of what Saint Peters..."
Sapolsky is amaziiing:D

[gameoflife]

Lessons - you can practically play with behaviour, reward, dopamine, suprize elements etc. To shape a awesome life.

Gratitude for the teaching.

[JamesCarmichael]

If your a smoker try this. Wake up in the morning and go as long as you can without a cigarette. Literally go until you can't hold on anymore. Go to the shop (run if you have to) and buy a pack. Walk outside the shop and observe your feelings.

You'll notice the stress has gone away quite a bit without even having the cigarette.

[Subs]

This blew my world. These 5 minute video explains much. I need a week of to think and put things together

[niccadoodles]

this shows why people play the Lotto and believe they have a chance. Free dopamine!

[Someone-cdyi]

This is why it's often so hard for people with ADHD to be motivated and to start doing something and why stimulating medication like Adderall and Methylphenidate helps. They have a lack of dopamine and the medication elevates the dopamine.

[fouro]

@AapoJoki He's not making fun of Religion. Heck, he's paraphrasing faith-speak: "He's gone on to his reward." He's pointing out that we are so reward-focused that we can strive, and feel good about that striving (keeping the dopamine flowing) even when that payoff is abstract or invisible - i.e.: after death, wherein no one has yet come back to say: "It's true. I have pictures, an affadavit and a dinner menu! Keep the faith, your just reward is in the hereafter."

[dissdad]

It's known that drugs and porn can lead to an excessive release of dopamine, that will eventually wear down the dopamine receptors. Is this why drugs and addictive behaviours have trouble maintaining motivation for everyday life activities and problems following long-term goals?

[glacialimpala]

Ok so in some cases when 'depression' is triggered by an unfortunate event, that person doesn't look forward to any rewards (since the event cannot be undone, i.e. someone died) so without that dopamine rise there is no incentive to do chores, go to work and perform other stuff, which in turn classifies them as 'depressed' since that's a recognized behavior for depressed people.

It also explains why depression most often can be alleviated by a shift in mindset, or by using psychedelic drugs. You need only one reward to look forward to for the dopamine to rise.

[christo]

@tmafkap Yep. You know what I thought was neat about this speech (I watched the whole thing at FORA)? At the end he asked for questions and for about 30 seconds or so, nobody asked any questions and there was just silence. Then, once *somebody* finally asked a question, it was as if a light went on and the group got *permission* to ask questions and then for nearly 30 minutes there were constant questions. Our herd mentality is really powerful, even a bunch of professors.

[coreycox]

Mind blown. I can think of so many concrete anecdotal examples of this. I wondered earlier today if, conversely intemittant negative stimuli is more powerful than predictbility.

[DearProfessorRF]

I wish the public listen more to this kind of serious educators and professionals in their fields instead of so many charlatans with YouTube channels and podcasts and blogs, etc.

[manudasmd]

oh this guy is amazing. his speech reflects his intelligence

[Mthotyn]

Wow, I cant help but to think about the biochemical imbalance hypothesis for mental disorders when I listen to this. I think I need to go back and read Robert Whitaker's 'Anatomy of An Epidemic' again and pay closer attention this time.