Fall 9 Epigenetics and Gaming Addiction

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        Dopamine is our bodies “feel good” chemical, that is produced as a reward our brain gives us when we do something it likes. Dopamine produced by gaming can trigger these excitatory effects, enticing us to play more, which can lead to addiction. 

        Even though dopamine is considered an excitatory neurotransmitter, the chemical messenger can encourage or discourage an action depending on the receptors present. There are 5 different dopamine receptors (D1-D5) that control things like attention, impulse control, decision making, learning, memory, and sleep. When dopamine is received by an excitatory receptor, we feel pleasure and want to continue the behavior. When it is received by an inhibitory receptor, it may negatively affect impulse control and decision making.

        Epigenetics can impact the production and regulation of dopamine, as well as dopamine transporter and receptor production.  Altering these proteins can lead to addictive behaviors.

1)   An underproduction of dopamine may cause individuals to seek out dopamine creating activities, such as gaming. Insufficient levels would encourage a person to keep playing to maintain or increase current levels.
 
2)   Dopamine transporters regulate dopamine levels in the cleft (space between transmitters and receptors), by taking excessive dopamine from the cleft, and putting it back into the transmitter it came from. If we produce too many of these transporters, there will not be enough dopamine in the cleft  remaining to satisfy our receivers on the other side. This could lead to addictive behavior in trying to produce enough dopamine to reach the receivers.
 
3)   Overproduction or underproduction of the five receptor types can impact how the body responds to dopamine levels, and therefor can increase addiction to certain activities.  Improperly made receptors may even see pleasure as pain, and vice versa, causing people to seek harmful experiences to feel good.

        Healthy activities, such as exercise, can be a positive substitute by maintaining dopamine production while encouraging the body to correct its epigenetic defects,  reducing the dependence on gaming.

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