Cold exposure can lead to long-lasting increases in dopamine and norepinephrine, similar to the effects of addictive substances or behaviors. Though more research is needed to determine the effect of shorter, colder temperature exposures, the benefits of deliberate cold exposure can be harnessed for activities beyond the exposure itself.
Experiences that increase dopamine in our brains, such as cold exposure, can cause time to feel like it's moving very slowly. This is because the dopaminergic state changes both our present experiences and how we remember them in the future.
This podcast discusses how dopamine is related to our motivation and drive rather than just pleasure, and how to manage our dopamine hits in today's world where we are constantly bombarded with stimuli.
Dopamine is about motivation and drive as it propels you along a path. While there are ways to get more dopamine, such as through drugs or supplements, relying on drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine as a source ultimately leads to the drug becoming the path and destination, decreasing motivation in all other areas of life.
Dr. Rhonda Patrick discusses how research suggests that abstaining from caffeine prior to learning and then consuming it immediately afterward can improve memory retention, and shares tips on how to extract caffeine’s performance-enhancing effects.