Understanding dopamine flow is the foundation of video game psychology

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter linked to motivation, goal-oriented behavior, euphoria, pleasure and attention (Although the sensation of pleasure after achieving a target can be attributed to other neurotransmitters or it is not clear that it is exclusively dopamine).

We generate dopamine peaks based on the expectation of a reward, that is, proportionally to its magnitude, its probability of occurrence and its space-time distance.

You have probably heard that video games generate dopamine and that therefore can be addictive. And period. Normally we do not usually find more depth or rigor in the articles that deal with this topic. However, today you can shape it.

• Related article: "Types of neurotransmitters: functions and classification"

The relationship between dopamine and video games

Far is the first study by Koepp et al. In 1998 where an increase in dopamine secretion was measured for the first time when playing video games in general.

Taking that into account, that video games generate dopamine has always been a successful idea, but that, for years, it has served as a horizon in our understanding. Let's go further.

What matters for a greater dopaminergic capacity is that it flowsNot that we have "a lot" of dopamine in the brain.

On the other hand, for dopamine to flow we need the pre and post synaptic receptors; when a receptor absorbs dopamine it enters into regeneration. The regeneration of a single dopamine receptor in the short term (from less than a day to two days) is an enigma.

We have a neurochemical mechanism that can cause us to modify the expression of our DNA to encode more dopamine receptors. and thus have more flow capacity in this aspect; however, this is also limited and can “wear us out”.

In addition, if we oversaturate our brain with dopamine, it becomes stagnant, which means that we will have fewer dopamine receptors. compared to a normal state, and that the few remaining and / or slowly regenerating receptors will be reabsorbing dopamine stagnant. This will leave us a state of low quality attentional, motivational and ability to feel pleasure.

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The implications of this for the health of gamers

We do not know what dopaminergic regeneration looks like in the short term, but we do know the sustained attention curves and the symptoms of "Dopamine imbalance", so that, in a way, we can infer in the short term when we have stable dopamine levels or unbalanced.

On the one hand, care in general usually takes about 5 minutes to “heat up”, and from there it always goes down. gradually, being able to find, depending on each situation, an effect of improvement in the quality of care when the end approaches of a task.

On the other, these are symptoms of dopamine imbalance (We speak of imbalance because a very high dopamine always ends in a low dopamine flow).

Among others, phenomena such as restless legs, tics, stiffness, decreased insulin secretion, lowered defenses and reduced intestinal motility stand out. This may sound alarming, once we understand it, it serves to act accordingly.

And we have seen cases like Uzi (a professional League of Legends player) who retired with a diagnosis of diabetes, but we also have to focus on the fact that the majority of video game players are responsible with regard to health and care habits academic-labor.

And I say this, knocking on wood, having compared more than 50 young people who dedicated 30 hours a week in the amateur world of League of Legends and see that 90% maintained their life and that those who did not have other vital problems that also added fuel to the fire to lead them to experience the high use of video games rather as a way of escape.

• Related article: "Eight important psychological aspects in video games"

Are you interested in knowing more?

If you want to learn more about psychology applied to videogames In a training that goes to the point, and that makes training more education and less business, you may be interested in our course for health professionals available at Gamewell.

It is important to make our young gamers understand that, to enjoy more and play better, you have to take care of your mental performance; If we make them understand how dopamine works, most will act on it. And this helps us to promote health habits such as sports, sleep hygiene and even not getting burned playing so much.

There are not few young people who have taken refuge in video games and as a result of taking them more seriously (one attitude that could well be seen as fleeing forward) this has served, however, to improve its esteem and take care of yourself more. And this base, in turn, serves as a starting point to rebuild the solution to other vital problems that led them to seek refuge.