The dopamine neurotransmitter plays a key role in cognitive performance, motivation, pleasure, sex drive, alertness and movement. Dopamine is also a catecholamine and the building block of other catecholamines, norepinephrine and epinephrine.
Some of the key functions of dopamine in the brain include recognizing pleasure, enjoying rewards, regulating memory and learning and accommodating fluent body movements.
People who have low levels of the dopamine neurotransmitter often experience symptoms like depression, chronic fatigue and feelings of defeat and hopelessness.
Increasing dopamine levels in individuals who are deficient can improve the desire to work toward challenging goals, enhance feelings of arousal, tap into our creativity and feel good about living our chosen life paths.



- Supports energy & motivation
- Promotes focus & mental clarity
- Improves mood & stress response
Dopamine Neurotransmitter Biosynthesis
Related Topics
The dopamine neurotransmitter is produced in the brain from an amino acid called tyrosine. Tyrosine is classified as “conditionally essential”.
In healthy people, tyrosine can be biosynthesized from another amino acid called phenylalanine. Tyrosine may also be gained from taking a dietary supplement and by choosing certain protein-rich food sources.
Tyrosine is the rate-limiting precursor of the compound L-DOPA (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, Levodopa). L-DOPA is then converted into the neurochemical dopamine.
L-DOPA is not found in most common food sources, but it is found in the seeds of the Mucuna Pruriens (Velvet Bean) plant. This herbal extract is sometimes used as a dopamine-enhancing supplement.
The L form (isomer) of DOPA can cross into the brain and become available for conversion into dopamine. Dopamine cannot cross the blood brain barrier itself. This means that all brain dopamine must be manufactured within the brain.
Dopamine Neurotransmitter in the VTA
The VTA (ventral tegmental area) is a group of nerves inside the midbrain. More specifically, the VTA is located proximal to the floor midline of the mesencephalon.
Dopaminergic neurons originate in the VTA and extend into several other brain regions in between the caudal brainstem and the prefrontal cortex.
The cell bodies released from the VTA function in the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system. They are associated with modulating the natural reward circuitry of the brain.
When dopamine is released from the VTA affect cognition, this chemical messenger can cause the perception of intense emotions like love, addiction, orgasm and motivation.
Dopamine’s Effects in the Substantia Nigra
The substantia nigra is also found in the mesencephalon. The word “nigra” means “black” in Latin. Its name reflects the fact that it appears darker in color than other areas of the brain.
This darkness is caused by high concentrations of both dopaminergic and neuromelanin neurons. Notably, Parkinson’s disease is caused by dopaminergic neuron death in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra.
The pars compacta and the pars reticula form the substantia nigra. The release of the dopamine neurotransmitter into the pars compacta accommodates signaling to the circuits of the basal ganglia.
Certain neurons in the basal ganglia and the cerebellum are responsible for modulating motor function.
When dopamine levels in the basal ganglia are too low, movement may be delayed and uncoordinated. If dopamine levels are excessively high in the basal ganglia, involuntary movements like tics and spasms may onset.
Dopamine Neurotransmitter: Excitatory or Inhibitory?
All neurotransmitters are used to convey information throughout pathways between neurons in the brain. They relay nerve impulses across synaptic clefts between individual neurons.
When a neurotransmitter is released by one neuron and reaches a receptor on another neuron, it can have an excitatory or inhibitory effect. Excitatory neurotransmitters excite the brain. Inhibitory neurotransmitters balance moods and emotions in the presence of excessive concentrations of excitatory neurotransmitters.
Dopamine is special because it is both inhibitory and excitatory. Many of the effects of dopamine are excitatory, but in some cases it also has an inhibitory effect.
It helps to regulate our attention and focus, enabling better “Executive Function.” This relates to our ability to pursue goal-oriented activities as well as facets like working memory.
It is largely responsible for our feelings of motivation and can have a positive effect on productivity and concentration. Dopamine can also reduce feelings of depression and anxiety; it has been linked to feelings of confidence and the belief that we can accomplish our goals.
Signs of Dopamine Deficiency
The dopamine neurotransmitter can be depleted in various ways. Choosing improper foods, being sedentary, failing to manage stress properly, oxidation, genetic predisposition, pharmaceutical and illicit drugs, dehydration, environmental toxins and more can all decrease brain dopamine levels.
Levels naturally rise and fall depending on many factors. However, it is estimated that as many as 86% of people in the US have suboptimal brain dopamine levels.
If your dopaminergic brain activity is too low, it can result in a lack of mental drive, feelings of brain fog, and sadness. Individuals with dopamine deficiency or short-term depletion may feel unenthusiastic about life and have little energy or desire.
Low levels are also correlated with mood disorders, stress, weight gain, and Dopamine-Deficient Depression.
Conclusions
The dopamine neurotransmitter is a brain chemical that is commonly associated with experiencing pleasure.
Optimized levels of dopamine can be helpful for alleviating depression, enhancing focus, stimulating sex drive, or feeling deep love. It promotes intense drive and motivation, and also helps us to stay calm, focused and on-task.
Even slight changes in dopamine chemical balance in the brain can yield negative effects. Low dopamine levels are associated with depression, ADD (attention deficit disorder), ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), and Parkinson’s disease.
Excessive dopamine concentrations are associated with schizophrenia and other forms of psychosis.
Tyrosine supplementation is one way to improve excessively low dopamine levels. Taking mucuna pruriens or l-phenylalanine are two other popular supplements to increase the production of this neurotransmitter.
Dopamine supplements can carry a risk of side effects if overused or if taken by certain individuals. They can affect the synthesis of thyroid stimulating hormone and may exacerbate the effects of hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease.
Tyrosine is also stimulatory and may interact with medicines for hypertension (high blood pressure). Other interactions with anti-depressant medications such as Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI’s) are possible.
If you are considering following a Dopamine-boosting diet or using supplements like tyrosine, then it is best to seek medical advice first. Let the doctor know about pre-existing health conditions and any prescription meds, OTC meds and/or herbal supplements you use.
- Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, et al., editors. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates; 2001.
- Kempster PA1, Gibb WR, Stern GM, Lees AJ. Asymmetry of substantia nigra neuronal loss in Parkinson's disease and its relevance to the mechanism of levodopa related motor fluctuations. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1989 Jan;52(1):72-6.
- Jiang H1, Wang J2, Rogers J3, Xie J4. Brain Iron Metabolism Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease. Mol Neurobiol. 2016 Apr 2. [Epub ahead of print]
- Arnsten AF1, Girgis RR2, Gray DL3, Mailman RB4. Novel Dopamine Therapeutics for Cognitive Deficits in Schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry. 2016 Jan 18. pii: S0006-3223(16)00044-5. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.12.028. [Epub ahead of print]
- Arnsten AF1, Wang M2, Paspalas CD2. Dopamine's Actions in Primate Prefrontal Cortex: Challenges for Treating Cognitive Disorders. Pharmacol Rev. 2015 Jul;67(3):681-96. doi: 10.1124/pr.115.010512.
- Torres-Courchoud I1, Chen HH. Is there still a role for low-dose dopamine use in acute heart failure? Curr Opin Crit Care. 2014 Oct;20(5):467-71. doi: 10.1097/MCC.0000000000000133.
- Salinas AG1, Davis MI2, Lovinger DM2, Mateo Y3. Dopamine dynamics and cocaine sensitivity differ between striosome and matrix compartments of the striatum. Neuropharmacology. 2016 Mar 29. pii: S0028-3908(16)30121-6. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.03.049. [Epub ahead of print]
- Field T1, Hernandez-Reif M, Diego M, Schanberg S, Kuhn C. Cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy. Int J Neurosci. 2005 Oct;115(10):1397-413.
- Fernstrom JD1, Fernstrom MH Tyrosine, phenylalanine, and catecholamine synthesis and function in the brain. J Nutr. 2007 Jun;137(6 Suppl 1):1539S-1547S; discussion 1548S.
- Lou HC1. Dopamine precursors and brain function in phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency. Acta Paediatr Suppl. 1994 Dec;407:86-8.
- Lucia Raffaella Lampariello,1 Alessio Cortelazzo,2 Roberto Guerranti,2 Claudia Sticozzi,3 and Giuseppe Valacchi3,4,* The Magic Velvet Bean of Mucuna pruriens Journal ListJ Tradit Complement Medv.2(4); Oct-Dec 2012PMC3942911
- Yokogoshi H1, Kobayashi M, Mochizuki M, Terashima T. Effect of theanine, r-glutamylethylamide, on brain monoamines and striatal dopamine release in conscious rats. Neurochem Res. 1998 May;23(5):667-73.
- Janssen PA1, Leysen JE, Megens AA, Awouters FH. Does phenylethylamine act as an endogenous amphetamine in some patients? Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 1999 Sep;2(3):229-240.
- Liju, Vijayastelter B., Kottarapat Jeena, and Ramadasan Kuttan. "An Evaluation of Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antinociceptive Activities of Essential Oil from Curcuma Longa. L." Indian Journal of Pharmacology 43.5 (2011): 526–531. PMC. Web. 7 Apr. 2016.
- Wing VC1, Payer DE2, Houle S3, George TP4, Boileau I2. Measuring cigarette smoking-induced cortical dopamine release: A [¹¹C]FLB-457 PET study. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2015 May;40(6):1417-27. doi: 10.1038/npp.2014.327. Epub 2014 Dec 15.
Article last updated on: July 6th, 2018 by Nootriment