How Dopamine Affects Learning and Motivation in ADHD Brains

Thank you to Hero's Journal for sponsoring today's video!

Ever wondered what Dopamine was and how exactly it affects our brain? In this episode, we explore the wonderful world of dopamine and how it can affect our motivation and even our ability to learn!

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Resource Links for "How Dopamine Affects Learning and Motivation":

Research Provided By: Farah Mahmud & Dr. Patrick LaCount

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[dailydoseofmedicinee]

In addition to our mood, dopamine also affects movement, memory, and focus👍

[joegibson]

I had my dad's answer that "ADD isn't a real thing!" locked in my head for about the last 30 years. I found your channel at the very end of August. I've watched so many of your videos and a few other channel's and this is the first time in my life that I've felt like someone knows what it's like to be me. Thank you.

[ChanDeereGreen]

I'm 55 years old, and this is the first time anyone has ever used the phrase "trouble sustaining effort toward long term goals" without pairing it with the descriptor "lazy." I've been diagnosed with ADHD since I was 40, but there is still so much I don't understand about why I struggle with things other people seem to find easy.

[droidwaller]

"Hello brains!"

-*Dopamine intensifies* -

[historiansrevolt]

"Brain smoothy" is actually an amazing way to describe what's going on up there. Same ingredients for everyone, but the proportions are different.

[supervert]

I like the part where you said “if you don’t make your own, store bought is fine”. Makes me feel a little better about actually having to take mine. Thanks!

[hannahk]

SoI’m a neuroscientist with adhd that studies the effects of dopamine with motivation and reward processing and I just wanted to say that you did a really good job explaining it! Accurate but easily explained :)

[averycockburn]

One unexpected positive side effect of ADHD meds was I no longer had frequent sugar cravings. I still enjoy sugar--who doesn't?--but I stopped needing it like air to breathe. I assume this was due to increased dopamine (or increased access to dopamine).

[Gumpy]

It's funny because I knew the gist of this video before, but I love hearing it again (and in more detail). It helps me understand myself, especially because at times I've felt like I might not actually have adhd and I'm just lazy and take stimulants to overcome that. But that's ridiculous.

Also - screw commenting for the algorithm. I comment for your dopamine now.

[becciKeks]

I had a session with my therapist and told her that I suspect that I have ADHD. I was so nervous, because I constantly switch between "you're just lazy and search for an excuse to your behaviour" and "no, your thoughts are valid and this is real". But she told me that I could have ADHD with my problems and although she can't diagnose me she encouraged me to look further into it.
And your videos help so much! Thank you <3

[jezra]

I struggle with self-motivation more than any other ADHD trait. I can be very disciplined when it comes to my jobs and other schedules I'm obligated to follow, but I can't motivate myself using sheer will power.

[TheXynariz]

I'm still looking into being diagnosed for myself, but whether or not I actually *do* have ADHD, your videos still help me understand myself (and others) better. THANK YOU for this well-thought-out, informative, and also entertaining educational material!

[chestersnap]

The dopamine issues explain so much about my life. When my mom would get on me about about my procrastination she'd always say stuff like "but it feels good to get things done" and yeah. It does. It does not feel good to do it, though, and so what she said never really meant anything to me. This also explains why I struggle so much to not go for immediate rewards. One of the ways to trick yourself into doing things is to offer yourself a reward at the end of the task. But if there's nothing stopping me from having it now, why would I not just have it now? And suddenly I understand why it might work for other people

I really need that ADHD testing place to contact me back

[emmyygabriella]

This is such a great explanation!! I was trying to find the words to explain to my fiancé what happened last week. He proposed the weekend before and i was over the moon! I experienced consistent rushes of dopamine throughout the amazing weekend he planned for us. As soon as the trip was over and i had to return to my normal routine, i felt so unmotivated. I couldn’t get myself to do anything extra, could only handle the essential tasks. All of that being said, this video was right on time! 🙌🏾🧠

[lunesterv]

I was diagnosed as a kid (very young) and they tried Ritalin once with one dosage and then called it quits. I spent my entire life struggling hard bouncing between diagnoses always convinced that something far worse was wrong with me. I failed out of college, struggled to keep jobs, couldn't maintain a relationship, and just fell apart. It hasn't been until the past six years that I have finally felt like life is coming together. I heavily advocated to be rediagnosed a couple of years ago (that is another mess) and am now on meds. I stumbled upon your channel this year and it's the first time in my life that I don't feel broken, damaged, or a mistake. Thank you for the content that you put out and for shining a light for those of us who have spent so much time in the dark.

[bryanwarner]

Procrastinating on college applications due in 45 days as I watch this. And I have the lack of dopamine to blame. Such a timely video, I love it!

[thomasalvarez]

I've been having a hard time getting things done lately, although watching your videos always gives me some dopamine, and some motivation, because I think I'm not unable to reach my goals, if you can, I think I can too.
Thank you so much for being there for us

[aaronmartin]

I knew about the difficulties with dopamine in my ADHD brain, but I had completely forgotten about dopamine reuptake. Explains part of the reason why, during the times when I feel like I've got a better "handle" on my life and life-in-general, it's when I'm keeping myself "calm" 'in the flow" or very "zen-like" and keeping in mind "haste makes waste." Mindfulness, meditation, better breathing, etc, helps keep my dopamine levels..level, and may not "overflood" my motivation on long projects I don't like which kills my spark after an hour. Also helps me keep my attention on the stuff I love doing, too.

[arikm]

I was just trying to explain this to my BF last night. He always comments about how I have so much time, why don't I just finish my homework during my free time. It's because after my medicine wears off, my coping skills don't work as well, which means that if I use my "productive time" to study for an exam but then try to do homework after that productive time has passed, it's miserable. Unless I know that the homework is due that night, it's really emotionally taxing and time consuming to try and do homework outside of my productivity window. It sucks that it's limited to 8 hours combined time a day because if 4 hours are spent in class, that's only 4 hours to study/do homework effectively. "Effectively" means that I remember what I'm studying and I understand what the problems want me to do. Otherwise, it's like I'm not wearing my glasses. My memory shuts off, I get frustrated easily, and trying to understand textbooks, especially complex math, is hard.

I envy people who can just study all day into the night and then remember things for their exams.

[jessicadaltongoode]

I looked at the journal and got really emotional. The sentence ‘I want a better story about my …' just hit home so hard. I’ve really struggled with motivation. This looks amazing and like it might help a lot - Thank you for the recommendation, I have a red dnd style one on the way 🙏