<\/a>1) May Make You More Social and Extroverted<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nDopamine and its pathways are associated with extraversion [R<\/a>].<\/p>\nHigher dopamine levels were associated with an extroverted personality in a study on 16 male patients with depression<\/a>. In contrast, low dopamine D2\/D3 receptor availability in a brain region (striatum) were associated with personal detachment, aloofness, and social phobia in another study on 14 healthy human volunteers [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\nAdditionally, people with gene variants that cause increased dopamine activity are more extroverted.<\/p>\n
In a study of 130 people, those with an SNP associated with a 40% higher expression of the gene encoding the DRD4<\/a> receptor – and therefore, higher dopamine activity – had higher levels of extraversion. Specifically, the presence of the “C” allele in this SNP<\/a> of the DRD4 gene in carriers of the COMT<\/a> A\/A genotype <\/a>was associated with higher levels of extraversion and hypomania than \u201cT\u201d [R<\/a>].<\/p>\nThe “A” allele for this SNP<\/a> in the DRD2<\/a> gene has been associated with a one-third reduction in D2-receptors. Carriers had significantly higher extraversion scores in a study on 24 people. These people may have higher dopamine activity (by reducing the levels of this receptor) and higher pleasurable responses (via increased reward prediction error<\/a>) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<\/a>2) May Increase Motivation<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nDopamine is also known as the \u201cmotivation molecule\u201d. It is responsible for intrinsic motivation <\/a>and provides the motivational\/internal drive to do things [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\nWe do things because we find them rewarding. Dopamine is responsible for reward-seeking behavior. It is the reward signal in the brain [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\nActivation of dopamine brain cells results in a good feeling\/reward, while their inactivation causes aversion [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\nIn animal studies, high, moderate, and low concentrations of dopamine-induced euphoric, seeking, and aversive states, respectively [R<\/a>].<\/p>\nDopamine increases exploration and novelty-seeking. Curiosity and interest are important components of intrinsic motivation [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\nAcross different mammalian species, there is an association between dopamine and positive experiences connected with exploration, new learning, and interest in one\u2019s environment [R<\/a>].<\/p>\nPeople who often experience intrinsically motivated flow states in their daily activities have greater dopamine D2-receptor<\/a> levels in specific brain regions. Conversely, low levels of dopamine make people and animals less likely to work for things. Dopamine blockade severely impairs effortful actions to obtain rewards [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<\/a>3) May Increase Social Dominance<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nBlocking the dopamine D2 receptor<\/a> with drugs in primates and mice lowered social dominance in high social class primates. In one study, D2 receptors increased by approximately 20% after social housing in monkeys that attained dominance but were unchanged in subordinates [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\nThe D2 receptors can be changed by the environment, but only before a social structure is in place. In one study on 14 human volunteers, the number of D2\/D3 receptors did not differ between them prior to the establishment of a social hierarchy, but once the social structure was established, those who became dominant developed higher D2\/D3 receptor activity [R<\/a>].<\/p>\nHowever, one study found that the rearrangement of the social hierarchy, such that some previously subordinate monkeys became dominant (and some dominant became subordinate) only increased D2\/3 <\/sub>receptor activity in those who were previously subordinate but didn\u2019t change it in former dominant monkeys [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n![\"success\"](\"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/08\/success.png\")
<\/strong><\/p>\nSource: [R<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/a>4) May Increase Socioeconomic Status<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nThe socioeconomic status is mainly determined by the education score and the type of occupation (i.e., menial labor vs executives, professionals, large business owners) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\nA study on 42 healthy people found that those with higher socioeconomic status had more D2\/D3 receptors in two brain regions (caudate and putamen). However, this was not the case in 38 cocaine<\/a> abusers. The study also associated higher D2\/D3 receptor availability with having attained a higher education level [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<\/a>5) May Increase Perceived Social Support<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nA similar correlation was seen with perceived social support and D2\/3 receptor activity (dopamine binding), as tested with a scale that assesses support from family, friends, and significant other, in the above-discussed study.<\/p>\n
![\"success\"](\"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/08\/success-1.png\")
<\/p>\n
Source: [R<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/a>6) May Increase Novelty-Seeking<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nDopamine promotes exploratory behavior in animals, which would be the human equivalent of traveling to new places [R<\/a>].<\/p>\nHigh novelty-seeking has generally been associated with lower D2 receptor availability in the subcortical region, higher dopamine levels outside of the cell, and increased vulnerability to drug addiction. Higher dopamine (measured indirectly by MAO levels) is associated with higher sensation seeking [R<\/a>].<\/p>\nSerotonin<\/a> counteracts the effects of dopamine, by reducing sensation\/novelty seeking, as seen in a study on 76 infants [R<\/a>].<\/p>\nA study on 130 adults found that women who genetically had more dopamine (carriers of the COMT <\/em>A\/A genotype<\/a>) also had higher novelty-seeking. People with A\/A had a novelty-seeking score of 11.9 versus 8.7 for both A\/G and G\/G [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n
Higher dopamine levels were associated with an extroverted personality in a study on 16 male patients with depression<\/a>. In contrast, low dopamine D2\/D3 receptor availability in a brain region (striatum) were associated with personal detachment, aloofness, and social phobia in another study on 14 healthy human volunteers [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Additionally, people with gene variants that cause increased dopamine activity are more extroverted.<\/p>\n In a study of 130 people, those with an SNP associated with a 40% higher expression of the gene encoding the DRD4<\/a> receptor – and therefore, higher dopamine activity – had higher levels of extraversion. Specifically, the presence of the “C” allele in this SNP<\/a> of the DRD4 gene in carriers of the COMT<\/a> A\/A genotype <\/a>was associated with higher levels of extraversion and hypomania than \u201cT\u201d [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The “A” allele for this SNP<\/a> in the DRD2<\/a> gene has been associated with a one-third reduction in D2-receptors. Carriers had significantly higher extraversion scores in a study on 24 people. These people may have higher dopamine activity (by reducing the levels of this receptor) and higher pleasurable responses (via increased reward prediction error<\/a>) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Dopamine is also known as the \u201cmotivation molecule\u201d. It is responsible for intrinsic motivation <\/a>and provides the motivational\/internal drive to do things [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n We do things because we find them rewarding. Dopamine is responsible for reward-seeking behavior. It is the reward signal in the brain [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Activation of dopamine brain cells results in a good feeling\/reward, while their inactivation causes aversion [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In animal studies, high, moderate, and low concentrations of dopamine-induced euphoric, seeking, and aversive states, respectively [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Dopamine increases exploration and novelty-seeking. Curiosity and interest are important components of intrinsic motivation [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Across different mammalian species, there is an association between dopamine and positive experiences connected with exploration, new learning, and interest in one\u2019s environment [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n People who often experience intrinsically motivated flow states in their daily activities have greater dopamine D2-receptor<\/a> levels in specific brain regions. Conversely, low levels of dopamine make people and animals less likely to work for things. Dopamine blockade severely impairs effortful actions to obtain rewards [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Blocking the dopamine D2 receptor<\/a> with drugs in primates and mice lowered social dominance in high social class primates. In one study, D2 receptors increased by approximately 20% after social housing in monkeys that attained dominance but were unchanged in subordinates [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The D2 receptors can be changed by the environment, but only before a social structure is in place. In one study on 14 human volunteers, the number of D2\/D3 receptors did not differ between them prior to the establishment of a social hierarchy, but once the social structure was established, those who became dominant developed higher D2\/D3 receptor activity [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n However, one study found that the rearrangement of the social hierarchy, such that some previously subordinate monkeys became dominant (and some dominant became subordinate) only increased D2\/3 <\/sub>receptor activity in those who were previously subordinate but didn\u2019t change it in former dominant monkeys [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Source: [R<\/a>]<\/p>\n The socioeconomic status is mainly determined by the education score and the type of occupation (i.e., menial labor vs executives, professionals, large business owners) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n A study on 42 healthy people found that those with higher socioeconomic status had more D2\/D3 receptors in two brain regions (caudate and putamen). However, this was not the case in 38 cocaine<\/a> abusers. The study also associated higher D2\/D3 receptor availability with having attained a higher education level [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n A similar correlation was seen with perceived social support and D2\/3 receptor activity (dopamine binding), as tested with a scale that assesses support from family, friends, and significant other, in the above-discussed study.<\/p>\n Source: [R<\/a>]<\/p>\n Dopamine promotes exploratory behavior in animals, which would be the human equivalent of traveling to new places [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n High novelty-seeking has generally been associated with lower D2 receptor availability in the subcortical region, higher dopamine levels outside of the cell, and increased vulnerability to drug addiction. Higher dopamine (measured indirectly by MAO levels) is associated with higher sensation seeking [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Serotonin<\/a> counteracts the effects of dopamine, by reducing sensation\/novelty seeking, as seen in a study on 76 infants [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n A study on 130 adults found that women who genetically had more dopamine (carriers of the COMT <\/em>A\/A genotype<\/a>) also had higher novelty-seeking. People with A\/A had a novelty-seeking score of 11.9 versus 8.7 for both A\/G and G\/G [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<\/a>2) May Increase Motivation<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>3) May Increase Social Dominance<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a>4) May Increase Socioeconomic Status<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>5) May Increase Perceived Social Support<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n<\/a>6) May Increase Novelty-Seeking<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n