I got a notice one day from my public library. The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge was in. I didn’t recognize the title or remember that I’d put it on reserve months earlier. But a notice from the library is almost always good news, so I picked it up.
Now that I have a better sense of how my brain functions, I know what happened.
When I heard a radio interview with Doidge, I got curious. Curiosity feels good to our brains, because it triggers release of dopamine, one of two key neurotransmitters that affect our prefrontal cortex—the part of our brain where we ‘think.’ (Neurotransmitters are the chemical foundation of our brain’s communication system)
When Doidge’s book piqued my curiosity, my brain released a little shot of dopamine. That made me feel good, and motivated me to put the book on reserve, behind 47 other people who no doubt also enjoyed a shot of dopamine when they heard about it.
Our brains also release dopamine when we get a nice little surprise, or even when we anticipate something good is going to happen, which is why it feels so good to have books on reserve at the library. I anticipate the fun of reading something new, and I like the little surprise when the library emails me that it’s my turn.
So when I read that email, I enjoyed another shot of the stuff, but only a small one. I couldn’t remember why I’d wanted to read the book, and the title sounded a bit dry to me. Brains that change themselves?
Book in hand, the subtitle explained why it had piqued my interest—Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science. The pleasure I got from reading Doidge’s compelling narrative and the stimulation of learning cool new stuff got my dopamine pumping all over again.
That book led to another book on neuroscience, and to another and another and another. More dopamine.
And it just keeps flowing. Thanks to my enduring curiosity about the brain, I enjoy a slow, steady drip of dopamine as researchers uncover ever more amazing insights about the gray (and white) matter. Keeps me engaged, keeps me happy, keeps me growing my skills at managing the ‘stuff’ of life. I recommend it.
Got a favorite book on how our brains work? Or, if you would like a list of favorite titles from my neuroscience bookshelf, shoot me an email. When it comes to your brain, ignorance is not bliss.
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