What the Digital Age Did to Our Dopamine

Reading Time: 3 minutes

First published: 29 August 2022 @ 6:00 pm

Two main neurotransmitters, dopamine and serotonin, regulate the function of your brain. The former is involved in motor control, while the latter handles emotional regulation.

In modern times, with the invention of mobile phones and smart devices, people’s brain chemistry has changed drastically.

As a result, people have become less emotionally stable and many studies have shown that depression rates are on the rise.

In this article, we will look at what could be behind these changes in our brains and how this might affect us psychologically in the future.

The Impact of Digital Age to Our Emotional and Physical Health

1. Lack of Exercise

People have become so engrossed in their smart devices that they have reduced their physical activity. While some people often see us as lazy, this is a mistake.

As mentioned earlier, dopamine is the neurotransmitter that is involved in movement and movement causes a release of dopamine.

It’s believed that when we reduce our physical activity, we reduce our dopamine levels.

This might be one reason people are becoming more depressed and why depression rates are on the rise.

Photo by Rodion Kutsaev on Unsplash.

2. Lack of Sunlight

When sunlight is present, it causes a release of serotonin, which improves our mood and stimulates us to feel happier.

With the rise in technology and digital devices, people spend less time outdoors.

As a result, there is less sunlight available to them, which means less serotonin released and a lowered level of happiness in the brain.

Click on the next page to learn more effects of digital addiction to our dopamine system!