A chemical messenger in the brain that helps control movement, motivation, and feelings of reward and pleasure. It plays a key role in learning from rewards and in habits and addictions.
From 'dopa' (short for dihydroxyphenylalanine) + '-mine', a common ending for amine chemicals. It was named in the mid-20th century as scientists discovered its structure and role in the nervous system. The word is a technical coinage built from chemical naming rules.
People often call dopamine the 'pleasure chemical', but it’s more accurate to think of it as the 'pay attention, this matters' chemical. It spikes not just when you get rewards, but when you expect them or chase them. That’s why it’s so tied to scrolling, gaming, and addiction: it wires your brain to keep seeking, not just enjoying.
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