Dopamine

Posted on Autism

Feel-good hormone dopamine affects passion and autism

Dopamine may help explain the prevalence of traits and conditions more commonly seen in males

Dopamine may help explain the prevalence of traits and conditions more commonly seen in males
Dopamine may help explain the prevalence of traits and conditions more commonly seen in males

Men – more often than women – need passion to succeed at things. At the same time, boys are diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum four times as often as girls.

Both statistics may be related to dopamine, one of our body’s neurotransmitters.

“This is interesting. Research shows a more active dopamine system in most men” than in women, says Hermundur Sigmundsson, a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology’s (NTNU)Department of Psychology.

He is behind a new study that addresses gender differences in key motivating factors for what it takes to become good at something. The study uses men’s and women’s differing activity in the dopamine system as an explanatory model.

“We looked at gender differences around passion, self-discipline and positive attitude,” Sigmundsson says.

The study refers to these qualities as passion, grit and mindset. The researchers also applied theories to possible links with dopamine levels.

Dopamine is linked to learning, attention and our ability to focus.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is released in the brain. It can contribute to a feeling of satisfaction.

Men normally secrete more dopamine, which is often called the “happy hormone,” but it plays a far more complex role than that. The effects of dopamine are linked to learning, attention and our ability to focus.

Previous studies on Icelandic students have shown that men are more dependent on passion in order to succeed at something. This study confirms the earlier findings. Men require more passion. In six out of eight test questions, men score higher on passion than women.

However, the association with dopamine levels has not been established previously.

“The fact that we’ve developed a test to measure passion for goal achievement means that we can now relate dopamine levels to passion and goal achievement,” says Sigmundsson.

Women, on the other hand, may have greater self-discipline – or grit – and be more conscientious, according to other studies. Their level of passion may not be as pronounced in general, but they still are able to do what it takes to be good.

The results for the women, however, are somewhat more ambiguous than men’s strong need to burn for something, and this study found no such gender difference.

Nor did the researchers find any difference between the sexes in terms of growth mindset.

In the past, the dopamine system has been associated with many different conditions, such as ADHD, psychoses, manias and Parkinson’s disease. But it may also be related to a certain form of autistic behaviour.

Some individuals with autism may become very interested in certain topics, which can be a bit unusual, or even strange, for most people. People on the autism spectrum can focus intensely on these topics or pursuits, at least for a while. Dopamine may play a role.

“Other research in neuroscience has shown hyperactivity in the dopamine system in individuals with autism, and boys make up four out of five children on the autism spectrum. This, and dopamine’s relationship to passion, might be a mechanism that helps to explain this behaviour,” says Sigmundsson.

The research group tested 917 people aged 14 to 77, consisting of 502 women and 415 men. This is considered a major study in this context.

Sigmundsson collaborated with Stéfan Guðnason from the University of Akureyri and Sigurrós Jóhannsdóttir from the Icelandic State Diagnostic and Counselling Centre (SDCC).

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Dopamine 101: The Superior Neurotransmitter for Healthy Mood and Drive




Dopamine

Dopamine

Dopamine (short for dihydroxyphenylethylamine) is a biochemical, hormone, and neurotransmitter that’s vital to a multitude of bodily functions. This substance is also referred to as one of the “happiness” or “feel-good hormones”. The function of dopamine is closely linked to the reward system – and it’s for this reason that this chemical plays a role in the formation of certain addictions.




Generally, though, dopamine keeps you focused and productive: when at sufficient levels, it ensures your mood and cognition are check. It also helps you sleep, meaning it supports both growth and recovery. You’ll be surprised, perhaps, but dopamine also affects movement, working on muscles by activating key physiological pathways.

Issues of Insufficiency

Given how important dopamine is, not having enough of it can lead to all sorts of health issues. If you don’t have a sufficient supply of this chemical, it might be due to the following:

Too little dopamine secretion

Decreased capacity of dopamine receptors

Premature dopamine breakdown

Impaired recirculation of dopamine

The brain goes haywire when there’s not enough dopamine, and this affects both motor and cognitive functions. Here are some signs and symptoms that may point out a shortage:

Feeling depressed for no apparent reason

Decreased ability to feel joy or pleasure

Apathy, lethargy, or unexplained fatigue

Procrastination

Decreased libido (sexual desire)

The good things is that there are accessible remedies (both natural and synthetic options) to fix your dopamine. We’ll discuss a few of the most popular ones a bit later in this post.

One study, however, suggests that altered dopamine signaling may be a factor in the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Upon studying the following symptoms of ASD, experts named low levels of dopamine as a potential culprit:

Difficulty with verbal and non-verbal communication

Non-participation in conversations

Preference to play alone

Insistence on following routines

Stimming (arm-flapping, head-banging)

Fixation with unusual objects or a part of an object

So, unfortunately, not all dopamine-related dilemmas can easily be resolved – and this just shows once again how crucial this brain chemical is in ensuring that both the body and mind stays in optimal shape.

 Precursors and Sources




Tyrosine, a hydrophilic amino acid present in most proteins, is the precursor of dopamine. Tyrosine is first converted to L-DOPA (or Levodopa), a substance that the body transforms into dopamine. Meat (particularly poultry meat) and dairy products are loaded with tyrosine. If you’re not too keen on those, here are some good alternatives:

Almonds

Avocados

Bananas

Chocolate

Coffee

Lima beans

Peanuts

Pumpkin seeds

Sesame seeds

Watermelon

Supplements that contain L-DOPA are also available and are recommended for those who value their convenience. Mucuna pruriens, a plant that’s also known as “magic velvet bean”, is a tropical legume cultivated in parts of Africa and Asia. It’s one of the few natural sources of L-Dopa – but given where it’s grown, you’ll probably only see it in capsule form.

Mucuna pruriens stimulates the hypothalamus, which links the autonomic nervous system with the endocrine system via the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus first secretes gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), signaling the pituitary to do its work. The pituitary (the “master gland”), in turn, produces human growth hormone (HGH).

The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG) is the same trio that’s responsible for the secretion of testosterone – the hormone that provides us with muscle mass, hair growth, strength, and libido. HPG regulates dopamine and vice versa, making the relationship between them bidirectional.

All in all, there’s growing interest in the potential use of HGH (naturally-occurring and synthetic) for slowing down such age-related changes as an increase in body fat and decrease in muscle and bone mass. In studies involving healthy adults taking synthetic HGH, increased muscle mass is a common outcome; however, that doesn’t necessarily translate to increased vitality.

Benefit of Cold Showers

Aside from drinking tea, you may take a cold shower to get a dopamine boost. How does that work exactly? For the brain to function adequately, it has to experience physiological stress. In one experiment, participants were required to take two to three-minute-long cold showers (20°C) twice a day for several months.

It was discovered that cold hydrotherapy can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, thereby increasing levels of beta-endorphin in the blood and increasing noradrenaline levels in the brain. When cold water touches the skin, mechanoreceptors (peripheral nerve endings) send an enormous surge of electrical impulses that jolts the brain.

Interestingly, those who participated in the study noted a reduction in depressive symptoms. Taking cold showers was also found to have an analgesic effect, meaning it alleviated pain. The researchers, however, were clear about the need for more extensive studies to further confirm their findings.

The Magnificent Matcha

If you prefer something hot, you should probably consider drinking Matcha tea. This oriental beverage improves cognitive functions, enhances alertness, increases concentration, and promotes a sense of wellbeing in general. Matcha’s superior L-Theanine content (compared to other types of green tea) is what causes an increase in dopamine production.

The hot beverage also strengthens the immune system – a single cup of Matcha has ten times more antioxidants than regular tea. In addition, a special substance known as theophylline (which belongs to the same chemical group as caffeine) makes Matcha a great alternative to common stimulants. While the boost you get from coffee is fleeting, Matcha sustains your energy levels much longer, thus further enhancing your mood and drive.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to visit East Asia just to get your hands on such a remarkable drink. There are Matcha tea preparations readily available on the market. Usually, they come in powder form, meaning you’ll only have to mix them in hot water whenever you’re feeling low or tired.

A Pornography Dilemma

So far, we’ve discussed some easy ways to boost your dopamine levels. Before we wrap up this article though, it’s important that we talk about the problem with porn. When watching porn, dopamine floods the area of the brain responsible for emotion and learning, giving a sense of heightened focus and craving.

The pleasure experienced is quite overwhelming so that the next time there’s an “itch” for more erotic pleasure, packets of dopamine are released in the brain. Inevitably, when dopamine production slows down because a higher level of satisfaction wasn’t reached, feelings of frustration will surface. Concentration and motivation will likely suffer as well.

You don’t need to resort to porn to get that sexual high: instead, opt for some quality intimacy with your lover or spouse. Besides, actual intimacy will give you a good shot of other happiness hormones such as norepinephrine, endorphins, and serotonin. Also, your craving for more physical contact would be transformed into a stronger desire for each other, thanks to that surge of hormones.

Knowledge to Fight Back

No matter what we do, there will be days when we’ll feel awfully negative and unmotivated – that’s just how life is. However, you can equip yourself with knowledge on how to fight back that destructive feeling with a good kick in the teeth. For example, a quick cold shower, a steaming cup of frothy green tea, a good serving of stir-fried chicken salad, or just a cuddling session with your significant other might just do wonders for your mood and drive.

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“Head banging and autism: Why kids bang their heads and how biomedical treatment can help” A post by Dr. Sonya Doherty




Dr. Sonya Doherty

Dr. Sonya Doherty





Welcome to our latest guest post from Dr. Sonya Doherty. You can read the original post on her blog here.

Dr. Sonya Doherty is a licensed and board certified Naturopathic Doctor who is an active member of the CAND. Sonya Doherty completed her undergraduate training at the University of Western Ontario in a Bachelor of Science Honors Kinesiology program.

Dr. Sonya Doherty writes” Head banging is very common in children diagnosed with autism.  From a biomedical perspective, head banging is considered a sign or symptom of an underlying problem.  Something is triggering the need to head bang.  Children with autism have dysregulated brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that impair their ability to process sensory information.  This sensory processing impairment causes pain.  Sometimes a child’s brain feels overwhelmed or scrambled.  Other times, the sensory input is causing direct pain to the brain.  The best example is if someone pops a balloon beside your ear.  You would be thrown into sensory overload because your auditory system was assaulted by an unexpected, loud sound.  For children with autism, the balance of brain chemicals change the way they perceive sensory information, dramatically increasing the effect of sensory stimuli on the brain.  For some children, this external assault on their brain is so overwhelming that they will bang their heads to drown out the information being picked up through their senses.  The world is a minefield for someone who cannot turn off background noise.  The typically developing brain can turn off unwanted sensory information.  The HVAC system that hums in your office is “tuned out”, protecting the brain from sensory overload.  In autism, there is no turning off these sounds. 





The fire truck down the street, the hum of traffic, 5 different conversations, typing on the keyboard etc.  Theses sounds all bombard the brain causing discomfort and pain.  Head banging is a survival strategy used to deal with this devastating amount of input.  Recent research has shown that people on the spectrum have more brain activity, even at rest.  I believe many “autistic behaviours” are an attempt to manage this overstimulation.  The head banging is a pain that children can control.  It creates pain, but distracts them from a far more distressing pain that is unrelenting and can’t be escaped.  Children withdraw from the world because of the inability to deal with this massive surplus of data.  Without the ability to interpret the data properly, head banging can help give some relief.

So, why is this happening?  Brain chemical imbalance can be related directly back to the methylation cycle.  When babies are conceived, they are not methylated.  Methylation is the process by which children develop in the womb and beyond.  Ninety percent of children with autism have methylation impairment, according to NIH funded research at the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute.  Methylation supports healthy neurons and brain chemicals.  This cycle is required to produce and regulate dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine and GABA.  Methylation helps protect the brain from toxins by producing glutathione.  Glutathione is the “battery” in the brain.  The brain can only develop as far as the glutathione levels will take it.  Toxins like PCBs, bisphenol A, lead and mercury have been directly linked to autism spectrum disorder and are removed from the body via glutathione.  As the “battery” runs down in the brain because of impairments in the methylation cycle and due to toxins, the brain begins to get excited.  The major protective mechanism in the brain relies on glutathione status.  Without glutathione, another brain chemical called glutamate builds up, causing excitability.  The excitability reaches a toxic level and becomes EXCITOTOXIC.  This state of excess glutatmate causes the sensory systems to crash and become overloaded.  Head banging, self-stimulating behaviour, aggression, irritability, hyperactivity and obsession with electronics can all be linked back to the lack of glutathione in the brain.Head banging is also linked to digestive issues in children with ASD.  Gut pain is the cause of many autistic behaviours.  Ninety percent of the body’s serotonin is produced in the digestive tract.  Constipation or diarrhea disrupts the production of serotonin which then negatively impacts the balance of dopamine.  Dopamine is one of the main brain chemicals that helps to properly process sensory information. When children have digestive problems, they are likely to also have yeast and bacterial imbalance.  These imbalances can worsen the state of EXCITOTOXICITY in the brain by depleted key nutrients and directly impairing the way the brain works through their impact on serotonin and dopamine.  The gut brain connection is extremely strong in autism.  Mounting research is linking the imbalance of good bacteria in the gut to ASD.  Good bacteria impact the way the brain functions.  We know that children with autism lack certain types of good bacteria.  When supplemented with the right strains, autistic behaviuors like head banging get better.

 

“Surveys published in the gastroenterology literature have stated that gastrointestinal problems, such as chronic constipation or diarrhea, occur in 46% to 85% of children with ASDs.”

Journal of Pediatrics – Scott M. Myers, MD

 

 What can you do to help your child who is banging their head?

First, if it hasn’t become crystal clear that your child is in pain, refer back to the above section.  THIS IS NOT A BEHAVIOUR.  Your child is in pain and now that you know, let’s get started on making them feel better.  Dr. Martha Herbert wrote a ground breaking book called The Autism Revolution.  In her book, she recommends a diet that will help your child.  The diet is hard.  And because your child is in pain, they likely are addicted to foods that give quick bursts of reprieve to the brain: Gluten, dairy, sugar and processed foods.  Your child’s diet, like their head banging, is a product of brain balance.  Helping to get rid of head banging and begin the process of repairing the brain is not easy but healing the brain is possible.  Healing means feeling better, learning easier, communicating more.  Sometimes is means children can progress over years of treatment off the spectrum.  Step one, though, is just to get them out of pain.

Here are the things your child can eat (it is only going to take one line):

– MEAT, VEGETABLES, FRUIT, NUTS AND SEEDS (as long as they are not allergic!!!!!)

Did I mention that Martha Herbert is a pediatric neurologist, associate professor at Harvard and one of the leading experts in the world on autism treatment?  I should mention that because here are the foods your child cannot eat (I am only going to need one line here as well)

– DAIRY, GRAINS (not just gluten – all grains), CORN, POTATO, MOST BEANS AND LEGUMES

The basic treatment guildelines in my practice have been fine tuned over the last 10 years of treating children with developmental concerns.  I have worked with over 2000 families to help prevent and treat developmental disorders such as autism, ADHD, dyspraxia / apraxia, speech delay, OCD, ODD and Tourette Syndrome.  The basic treatments include the above diet in addition to healing the digestive system, supporting the methylation cycle and saturating the brain with healthy fats.

Thanks for reading. ”