Can you really “hack” your dopamine? | Hyperfocus

It often seems that the more complex a subject is, the more people tend to oversimplify it.If your social media feeds are anything like mine, that’s definitely the case. Especially when it comes to science. One of those often-oversimplified things is dopamine. This neurotransmitter, or brain chemical, has become a target for catchy headlines promising new ways to “hack your dopamine.” Seriously. If you don’t believe me, type in “dopamine hacks” on YouTube and enjoy the endless scroll.This week on Hyperfocus, we take a deep dopamine dive with psychologist Dr. Ari Tuckman and sort out fact from fiction.Related resourcesHow I beat my social media habit (and how you can too)Tips from an ADHD Coach: Is it love or is it dopamine?Attention: How it’s different from working memoryTimestamps(3:01) What is dopamine? (8:48) How do dopamine and ADHD relate? (16:59) The truth behind dopamine “hacks” (25:25) What a clinician wishes we knewFor a transcript and more resources, visit the Hyperfocus page on Understood.We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected]   Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.