Motivation and emotion/Book/2026/Sensation-seeking and dopamine

Sensation-seeking and dopamine:
What is the neurobiological relationship between sensation-seeking and dopamine?

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Overview

Figure 1. People part taking in sensation-seeking Scenario Jaemin often feels dull and struggles to maintain contentment by doing boring daily activities such as working and chores at home. On the weekend Jaemin tends to feel the happiest when going out partying, doing social smoking and getting laid. He feels alive but soon after the weekend is over falls back into his dull life just getting by till the next weekend to do it over again.

Dopamine and Sensation-Seeking have a difficult relationship, especially in very different parts of the brain. As confusing as these two are together, they are essential to many decisions we make as people. From disorders such as ADHD and drug use attempting to search for something more, to individuals who may speed faster to feel the wind and a rush in their body. Both dopamine and sensation-seeking connect together neurologically to make these moments happen. But the question is why does this happen? and what is this relationship which happens in these moments?

Focus questions What is the relationship between sensation-seeking and dopamine? What is the brains part in creating dopamine and sensation-seeking? Is there a reason why dopamine and sensation-seeking connect together? How has the neurobiological relationship evolved over time?

Dopamine And Sensation-Seeking?

What is Sensation-Seeking?

• What is dopamine?.
• What is sensation-seeking?.
• Why they are important?

The Neurobiological Mechanics

Basal Ganglia

• Basal Ganglia consists of interconnected nuclei and works by receiving action plans, and executing plans (Reeves, 2024, Chapter 3).

Ventral Tegmental (VTA)

• Ventral Tegmental is the main area in the Basal Ganglia which produces dopamine also known as (VTA), (Reeves, 2024, Chapter 3).

Nucleus Accumbens (NAc)

• The Nucleus Accumbens holds the core reward centre and processes pleasure within the brain and reinforcement (Reeves, 2024, Chapter 3).

• What parts of the brain create dopamine and sensation-seeking?
• How do they connect and interact with each other?

The Relationship Of Dopamine And Sensation-Seeking

• How does Dopamine and Sensation-seeking work outside of the body?
• How does this effect individuals with high risk-taking?
• How has the relationship evolved over time?
• The dopamine system has been hypothesized to contribute to variations in sensation seeking between different individuals (Derringer et al., 2010) .

Figure 2. The chemical compound of dopamine.

Sensation-seeking can occur without releasing dopamine:

	True
	False

Conclusion

• There is a neurobiological relationship between dopamine and sensation-seeking.
• The brain does have main areas which affects dopamine and sensation-seeking.
• The neurobiological relationship has evolved over time with research.

Suggestions for this section: What is the answer to the sub-title question based on psychological theory and research? What are the answers to the focus questions? What are the practical, take-home messages?

See also

• Dopamine receptor D4 (Wikipedia)
• Dopamine and decision making (Book chapter, 2024)
• Motivation and emotion/Book/2014/Dopamine and motivation (Book chapter, 2014)
• Motivation and emotion/Book/2011/Sensation seeking (Book chapter, 2011)

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References

Costa, K. M., & Schoenbaum, G. (2022). Dopamine. "Current Biology", 32(15), R817–R824. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.06.060

Derringer, J., Krueger, R. F., Dick, D. M., Saccone, S., Grucza, R. A., Agrawal, A., Lin, P., Almasy, L., Edenberg, H. J., Foroud, T., Nurnberger, J. I., Hesselbrock, V. M., Kramer, J. R., Kuperman, S., Porjesz, B., Schuckit, M. A., & Bierut, L. J. (2010). Predicting Sensation Seeking From Dopamine Genes: A Candidate-System Approach. "Psychological Science", 21(9), 1282–1290. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797610380699

DeYoung, C. G. (2013). The neuromodulator of exploration: A unifying theory of the role of dopamine in personality. "Frontiers in Human Neuroscience", 7, 762. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00762

Hawes, S. W., Chahal, R., Hallquist, M. N., Paulsen, D. J., Geier, C. F., & Luna, B. (2017). Modulation of reward-related neural activation on sensation seeking across development. "NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.)", 147, 763–771. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.12.020

Linnet, J., Møller, A., Kumakura, Y., Cumming, P., & Gjedde, A. (2008). Low dopamine receptor availability in brain of highly sensation-seeking men. "NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.)", 41, T131–T131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.04.099

Norbury, A., & Husain, M. (2015). Sensation-seeking: Dopaminergic modulation and risk for psychopathology. "Behavioural Brain Research", 288, 79–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2015.04.015

Reeve, J. (2024). Understanding Motivation and Emotion. (8th ed.). "John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated".

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External links

• Dopamine System, Craving & Pursuit Explained (Youtube)
• Just For The Thrill Of It: An Inside Look At Sensation Seeking (Youtube)
• 2-Minute Neuroscience: Dopamine (Youtube)

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