The Reward System and Painful States
But calling reward areas "pleasure centers" turns out to be highly misleading. Reward areas in the brain began to be called "pleasure centers" partly because brain imaging studies showed that these areas are activated by various pleasurable activities. But researchers have found more recently that these same reward areas are also activated during various painful and distressing states. One brain imaging study showed, for example, that sustained pain in a jaw muscle activates various reward areas and also triggers the release of substantial amounts of endorphin in these areas. Burns and electric shocks release large amounts of dopamine, and also produce increases in endorphin that can be comparable to receiving a high dose of morphine. It has also been known for at least two decades that large amounts of endorphin are released into the brain and body when self-mutilating "cutters" cut themselves.
Beta-endorphin and dopamine are released by physically and emotionally painful or distressing states because their release is part of the normal stress response. Beta-endorphin apparently evolved to be part of the stress response largely because, in addition to being the primary pleasure chemical in the brain, it is also a powerful analgesic, or pain-killer. Endorphin release helps kill the pain from wounds in an emergency so that wild animals and human hunter-gatherers can focus on escaping from the emergency situation rather than being overly focused on pain from the wound. Dopamine is part of the stress response partly because it is a critical neurotransmitter in the motor system, and thus is critical to the muscle movements that are essential in any emergency response.
Beta-endorphin and dopamine are released by physically and emotionally painful or distressing states because their release is part of the normal stress response. Beta-endorphin apparently evolved to be part of the stress response largely because, in addition to being the primary pleasure chemical in the brain, it is also a powerful analgesic, or pain-killer. Endorphin release helps kill the pain from wounds in an emergency so that wild animals and human hunter-gatherers can focus on escaping from the emergency situation rather than being overly focused on pain from the wound. Dopamine is part of the stress response partly because it is a critical neurotransmitter in the motor system, and thus is critical to the muscle movements that are essential in any emergency response.
Addictive Patterns
Dopamine and endorphin, in addition to being released by painful or stressful states, are also thought to be the two most important neurochemicals involved in drug addiction and alcoholism. Addictive drugs dramatically raise dopamine levels in the brain – often to about ten times their normal levels – and also typically trigger a substantial release of endorphins, especially during the first few uses of the drug. Like painful and distressing states, addictive drugs typically trigger a massive stress response that will, in effect, throw the brain into survival mode. And so pain, distress, and addictive drugs all release dopamine and endorphin into the brain as a consequence of states of survival mode.
The Answer Model proposes that the only reason physically or emotionally self-destructive behaviors exist at all is that they supply the brain with a covert biochemical reward, primarily in the form of endorphin. In any behavioral, psychological, or emotional dysfunction, out-of-balance, survival-mode states such as anxiety or emotional pain are used – just like a drug – to derive a biochemical payoff. Thus nearly all psychological dysfunctions in human beings are ultimately due to the somewhat perverse fact that endorphin is released not only when we feel pleasure, but also when we experience pain. Continue.
The Answer Model proposes that the only reason physically or emotionally self-destructive behaviors exist at all is that they supply the brain with a covert biochemical reward, primarily in the form of endorphin. In any behavioral, psychological, or emotional dysfunction, out-of-balance, survival-mode states such as anxiety or emotional pain are used – just like a drug – to derive a biochemical payoff. Thus nearly all psychological dysfunctions in human beings are ultimately due to the somewhat perverse fact that endorphin is released not only when we feel pleasure, but also when we experience pain. Continue.
