Chemical Mediators in the Brain Term Paper

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Phenylethylamine naturally occurs as a trace amine in the brain. It releases dopamine in the mesolimbic pleasure-centers and peaks during orgasm. In the laboratory, and in unnaturally high doses it can produce stereotyped behavior more prominently than even than amphetamine (ibid).

Phenylethylamine has very distinct binding sites but not specific neurons. It helps mediate feelings of attraction, excitement, giddiness, apprehension and euphoria; but it has also been described as an endogenous anxiogen. One of its metabolites is high in subjects with paranoid schizophrenia (ibid).

Phenylethylamine has been theorized to cause depression. Monoamine oxidase type-b is equated as phenylethylaminase. The use of a selective MAO-b inhibitor, such as selegiline (l-deprenyl, Eldepryl) or rasagiline (Azilect) can accentuate the effects of chocolate (ibid).

In not just sex, but in all addictive behaviors, dopamine is released . Dopamine is released following high levels of addictive activity. We are not really addicted to the activity, but to the chemical mediator itself (Robinson, 2004).

High levels of dopamine bring about reckless and self-destructive behavior. This is why most mammals evolved with defined estrus periods when they "go into heat." Mostly, they are neutral the rest at other times about sexual activity.

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While we as humans do not go into heat, dopamine has an "off-switch" that makes us not desire the activity later (ibid).

If dopamine is the central operative factor for "conditions" such as nymphomania and other addictive behaviors, can treatment of dopamine levels "cure" them? After looking examples of patients with hypersexuality due to a number of medical causes, it seems that the levels of dopamine play the most important role for them. This makes sense as dopamine is associated with the pleasure system of the brain. Dopamine is released during sexual activity (Wurtz, 2007).

Prolactin is the "off switch." It is nature's way of saying stop and pay attention to something else and to prevent fixation with only one activity. This causes the "emotional separation when relationships end). The answer to these highs and lows is to realize that they exist and to understand when your partner is out of sync (Robinson, 2004).

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