Dopamine dynamics can help individuals understand their motivations and guide them towards more fulfilling activities.

Dopamine is primarily released in anticipation and craving rather than in response to pleasure, which narrows our focus on what we desire.

Dopamine reward prediction error explains how not receiving a desired reward can lead to feelings of despondency, as seen when a child receives a watch instead of a million dollars, resulting in a drop below their baseline dopamine levels.

Dopamine is not about the pursuit of pleasure; it's about the pleasure of pursuit and motivation.

Dopamine doesn't just signal pleasure; it provides a hit when something exceeds our expectations, driving us to explore and seek new experiences.

The better something feels, the lower you will feel afterwards, and it takes longer to return to your baseline dopamine levels.

Any high amount of dopamine that comes to you without effort will eventually lead to destruction or bring you close to it.

Dopamine is released when we pursue our goals, which is why many people feel depressed after achieving a big goal; they expect a greater reward.

When you anticipate a reward and it arrives, the associated behavior is more likely to occur again; however, if the expected reward does not come, dopamine levels can drop significantly.