The neurochemistry of mediocrity - pt.I

Neurochemistry of mediocrity

It's all clear with the geniuses, but what can we, the mediocre people, do?

You probably know the term "dopamine". For a long time scientists believed that it is a neuromediator, responsible for the pleasure we derive from food, drugs, sex and social contacts. In other words the pleaaure of accomplishment.

But as a result of recent research ( http://www.lsa.umich.edu/psych/research&labs/berridge/publications/Berridge&RobinsonBrResRev1998.pdf  ) , a new theory appeared - dopamine is responsible not for the pleasure of accomplishment, but for the desire and expectation of accomplishment. In other words - dopamine makes us crave (speaking simply without delving deep into science)

In the original papers there's the description of an experiment. As a result of the experiment, rats with suppressed production of dopamine lost their interest in eating. They had to be force-fed.
Which means that curiosity and cravings are directly linked to dopamine and the sensation of euphory.