Is dopamine good for you and serotonin bad?

answered by Jeanette Mostert

Editors, Translator: Natascha Roos & Sarah Schoch, Björn van der Haas

Short answer

No. Dopamine and serotonin are both examples of neurotransmitters – chemical messengers that transmit signals between nerve cells. Both are essential for the body to function correctly. The brain depends on a healthy balance of dopamine and serotonin to maintain its overall functionality. Alongside dopamine and serotonin, other important neurotransmitters include GABA, adrenaline, oxytocin, and acetylcholine.

Longer answer

Neurotransmitters spelen een belangrijke rol binnen onze hersenen. Terwijl serotonine vaak het “gemoedstoestand molecuul” wordt genoemd, en dopamine vaak het “genotmolecuul”, zijn beide bij vele verschillende hersenfuncties betrokken.

Serotonin

Serotonin is perhaps best known for its association with depression. Many antidepressants work by increasing serotonin levels (and sometimes noradrenaline, another neurotransmitter). Normally, when a brain cell releases serotonin to pass a message to another cell, the serotonin is quickly removed to stop the signal (‘Message received; you can stop now’). Antidepressants block this removal process, allowing serotonin to continue sending its message for longer. For many individuals, this mechanism improves mood and reduces depressive symptoms. However, serotonin is not just about mood. It also plays a key role in learning, memory, and other cognitive functions. Interestingly, its precise function in the brain remains only partially understood. As researcher B.L. Jacobs famously said, serotonin is ‘involved in everything but responsible for nothing.’

Dopamine

Dopamine is similarly complex. It is well-known for its role in pleasure, reward, and motivation. When you receive an unexpectedly large reward (for example, achieving a perfect score on an exam), dopamine is released in greater quantities across various brain regions. Similarly, substances like cocaine increase dopamine levels, amplifying feelings of pleasure and reward. However, as the effects of the drug wear off, the craving for more sets in, often leading to addiction over time. Dopamine is also vital for cognitive functions and motor control. For example, in Parkinson’s disease, damage to dopamine-producing brain cells causes the tremors associated with the condition. Additionally, imbalances in dopamine levels are linked to issues with attention and impulsivity, as seen in ADHD.

Conclusion

A healthy balance of both dopamine and serotonin is critical for proper brain function. Disruptions in these systems can lead to conditions such as depression, addiction, ADHD, and Parkinson’s disease.

Fun fact

Serotonin and dopamine also play key roles in the gut, often called our ‘second brain’ due to its abundance of nerve cells. Serotonin helps facilitate communication between gut cells, while gut bacteria produce neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine by breaking down food. Researchers are actively studying how these gut-produced neurotransmitters influence brain function. You can learn more about this exciting research here.

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