Final answer:
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in feelings of pleasure and addiction. While the dopamine release from phone interactions is weaker than that from drugs like nicotine and cocaine, addiction involves complex processes, including the influence of dopamine on the brain's reward centers. The study of dopamine receptor changes and neurotransmitter release helps to understand addiction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dopamine released when we check our phones or get a text is indeed significantly weaker than the dopamine release involved in activities such as drinking, gambling, or smoking. This does not necessarily mean it is less addictive, as addiction is a complex process involving many factors beyond the initial strength of dopamine release. However, dopamine plays a crucial role in feelings of pleasure and is a primary neurotransmitter associated with addiction. People tend to repeat behaviors that lead to dopamine release because it stimulates the brain's pleasure centers.
Nicotine and cocaine are known to significantly increase dopamine levels by either stimulating its release or preventing its reuptake, thus enhancing the action of dopamine and causing the "high". Over time, addicted individuals show a reduced number of dopamine receptors, as indicated by PET scans. This reduced receptor count is associated with the need for higher substance intake to achieve the same level of pleasure.
Moreover, gambling addiction and the activation of the reward centers in the brain have been linked to the neurotransmitter dopamine. Even experiences like "near misses" in gambling can produce dopamine-related activity in the brain, showing the powerful role of dopamine not just in substance addiction but also in behavioral addictions. The DSM-5 considers such disorders as addictions, recognizing their neuroscientific basis.
The number of neurotransmitter molecules released during exocytosis can influence neurological responses, thoughts, and actions, and it's important to understand changes in this number due to controlled stimulations such as drug use. Understanding the mechanisms behind these changes is crucial in addressing addiction.