Psychology
The Role of Dopamine in Motivation and Reward-Seeking Behavior
Quick fact
Dopamine is often called the 'reward molecule,' but research shows it's more about the anticipation of reward than the reward itself. In fact, dopamine spikes more before you get a reward than after.
Why this is interesting
You know that surge of excitement before a big win or a slice of pizza? That's dopamine—but it's not about the pleasure itself. So what is it really doing?