Tag Archive for: Dopamine

Self-Reinforcing Dopamine in ADHD

ADHD requires lots of Self-Awareness.

We know that any decision is executed at Prefrontal level in ADHD, an advantage in emergency situations, a disadvantage in analytic settings.

This scenario highlights the importance of Self-Awareness in ADHD.

ADHDers have poor judgment.

While this is an indelible benchmark, there are techniques to control the Impulsivity.

Training is the key, and it can be lengthy.
Keep in mind that nothing happens without Reward in ADHD, and not everyday is rewarding.

Managing boundaries and schedules is a starting point towards achieving Self-Worth and Analytical skills. 

ADHDers feel omnipotent, until they burn out.

Counseling is almost indispensable in the initial addressing phase. 
Self-Reinforcing Discipline is the first counselor’s responsibility. 

ADHDers don’t have Discipline in their vocabulary, literally.
Once the patient is disciplined, they can work on their own abilities.

Self-Reinforcement 

Reinforcement best describes ADHD therapy.

ADHDers function on Stimulation and Reward only, primarily a pharmacological approach to date.

However, new complementary therapies are understudy, targeting the Brain Reward Systems regulated by Dopamine.
More brain regions associated to dopamine are being identified in addition to the long established Hippocampus.
The Hippocampus/Hypothalamus connection has qualified the latter for Reward.

The general name for the Brain Reward System is the Mesolimbic Dopamine System, leaving no doubt about the predominant role of this neurotransmitter in multiple cognitive and motor functions.

Latest research shows the versatility of dopamine.

Dopamine release can be stimulated by voluntary cerebral activity like Visualization of the future in what is been coined as Mental Time Travel.

People are usually stuck in the Past.
Living in the Past is living in Death, especially if marked by trauma.
The same trauma that we project in the future, a destructive cycle named Chronic Catastrophizing.

On the contrary, looking to the future as the realization of our expectations, anticipates reward, the Self Reinforcement Hypothesis, followed by the Operant Conditioning that consolidates reward by releasing dopamine.

The all process Self-Reinforces behavior in ADHD, disciplining the ADHD brain.

Discipline will be the final product in the cure of ADHD.









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Memories vs Learning in the Neurodivergent

Non-neural Support Astrocytes complement Neurons in Memory/Motor Function.

The generic belief is that all Brain cells are Neurons.
Too easy to be true.
There’s a bunch of non-neural Glial cells in the brain.
Astrocytes belong to this category and the most influential in removing old synapses obstructing the acquisition of new skills.
They have their specific individual structure linked to the MEGF 10 Receptor, where inactive synapses are discarded.
Once again, Dopamine is the precursor of the whole process, with Astrocytes translating dopamine’ signals into learning.

Learning is strongly dependent on Memories and Sleep.

There are two Sleep Patterns: the initial NREM, marking the gradual transition from Wakefulness to Deep Restorative Sleep, and the Rise-leading REM, gradually reconnecting us with neural activity.
The REM phase is crucial for Memory and Emotional Consolidation.
Based on this model, lack of sleep is a major contributor to Amnesia and Mental Illness, disrupting Learning.
In fact, “Learning” is being replaced by “Memory” in Neuroscience, with the Hippocampus as the primary source for Memory-organisation and consequential Reward, confirming the multifaceted nature of Dopamine, the Hippocampus main fuel. In turn, the Hippocampus would qualify for both Learning and Reward Systems within the Limbic Center.

Neuroanatomy is fully interconnected.

Motor skills consolidate during NREM phase.
They are associated to Memory skills, since both are pre-cursed by Dopamine which signals Astrocytes the Synapses to remove.

This is the fundamental principle of the finding: 
Motor Skills Learning requires Neural Circuits Restructure by removing inactive Synapses during  Deep Restorative NREM Sleep.
If Learning is a Memory, we can confidently predict the interactions between Motor and Memory skills’ performance.

Resources 

The study is being conducted by the Institute of Basic Sciences under the supervision of Associate Director CHUNG Won-Suk, noting: “Learning depends on a precise circuit rewiring process that involves not only forming new synapses but also removing unnecessary connections.”

Astrocytes are the most numerous Supporting Neuron’s Cells, highly involved in Memory, to the extent of bordering Neural Networks like the Hippocampus and Amyloid Cortex in modulating fearful memories.
The Hippocampus alone cannot select all kinds of happy memories from traumatic experiences, as just recently endorsed.

Neuroscience is extremely compartmentalised with hundreds scientific teams working independently, so that new information is shared on a daily basis.
New cerebral regions and associated subcategories are discovered daily. 
Journals of Neuroscience struggle to stay up to date, an example of how limited our Brain knowledge is to date.

Astrocytes are promising targets for PTSD on the upgrade to Neural Cells.

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