<p>Too much dopamine release in the striatum may lead to <strong>psychosis</strong>, and especially to the <a href="http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/index.shtml" rel="nofollow"><strong>positive symptoms</strong></a> associated with this disease (e.g., <strong>delusions</strong> and <strong>hallucinations</strong>, as opposed to the <a href="http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/index.shtml" rel="nofollow">negative symptoms</a> such as a flattened affect) <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lawrence_Kegeles/publication/12903744_Increased_dopamine_transmission_in_schizophrenia_Relationship_to_illness_phases/links/0f31753c96c7489af8000000.pdf" rel="nofollow">(Laruelle <em>et al</em>., 1999)</a>. </p>

<p>The <em>etiology of psychosis</em> is complex. Many direct and indirect <strong>environmental factors</strong> are implicated, as well as <strong>genetic factors</strong>. Environmental factors include obstetric complications and frequent cannabis or amphetamine use. The environmental factors are all implicated stronger in psychosis than genetic causes. Genetic predisposition and environmental factors may also interact in complex ways in the development of psychosis <a href="http://schizophreniabulletin.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/3/549.full.pdf+html" rel="nofollow">(Howes &amp; Kapur, 2009)</a>. </p>

<p><sup><strong>References</strong><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="http://schizophreniabulletin.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/3/549.full.pdf+html" rel="nofollow">Howes &amp; Kapur, <em>Schizophrenia Bulletin</em> (2009); <strong>35</strong>(3): 549–62</a><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lawrence_Kegeles/publication/12903744_Increased_dopamine_transmission_in_schizophrenia_Relationship_to_illness_phases/links/0f31753c96c7489af8000000.pdf" rel="nofollow">Laruelle <em>et al</em>., <em>Biol Psychiatry</em> (1999); <strong>46</strong>:56–72</a></sup></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-16T14:40:42.487Z
2015-08-17T14:39:32.427Z
2015-08-17T14:39:32.427Z
AliceD
<p>I came across this list of effects of dopamine on cognition (from the book "<a href="http://www.heal-yourself.com.au/Cupids_Poisoned_Arrow.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Cupid's poisoned arrow</a>"). </p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/7IcKU.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/7IcKU.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-18T02:08:30.053Z
Although there may be some truth in this, the source's author is a lawyer and the book is not really scientific huffingtonpost.com/marnia-robinson -1
AliceD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-19T17:53:03.973Z
The book has dozens of other article references, I need to look up to see if they are referencing any particular scientific studies as a source for this list.
Alex Stone
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-17T19:48:37.153Z
2015-08-18T00:07:29.233Z
2015-08-18T00:07:29.233Z
Alex Stone
<p>I'm pretty familiar with the results of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder_predominantly_inattentive">having not enough dopamine</a>, though the reasons are not so clear to me.</p>

<p>To get a better insight on the topic I'd like to know something about having too much dopamine:</p>

<ol>
<li>What behaviour is result of having too much dopamine?</li>
<li>Why does it happen?</li>
</ol>

<p>I am aiming to get insight in disease states associated with excess dopamine, not drug-induced states.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-27T09:00:05.403Z
There has been done studies that overactive dopamine system may result in schizophrenia. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC33999/
CuriousSuperhero
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-27T12:54:45.467Z
Many psychostimulant drugs (cocain, meth etc.) induce DA release. Treatment with DA antagonists may in the end induce a state resembling an excess of DA transmission in the brain. The behavioral effects of both scenarios are very different. Perhaps your question needs some specification?
AliceD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-27T13:05:05.780Z
@ChrisStronks What should I specify?
Tomáš Zato
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-27T13:31:10.567Z
Perhaps specify the area of research you are targeting (drugs/disease/...); you could specify brain areas where it occurs; you could think about acute versus chronic effects; - as of now the question is quite broad and hard to answer. Just trying to help. It's interesting material! –
AliceD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-27T13:35:29.367Z
I think the problem is that I have very narrow knowledge of the topic. I'm targeting for disease (not result of drugs) and I'm looking for something that is basically inverse of ADHD - so the the same brain areas as those that are lacking dopamine during ADD/ADHD syndrome.
Tomáš Zato
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-27T13:42:12.927Z
I would add that info to the question! I could give you a load of info on drug-induced stuff but now I'm happy I didn't :)
AliceD
<neuroscience><neurophysiology><neuropsychology>
What is the result of an excess of dopamine?
Tomáš Zato
# What is the result of an excess of dopamine?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-11-27)

I'm pretty familiar with the results of [having not enough dopamine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder_predominantly_inattentive), though the reasons are not so clear to me.

To get a better insight on the topic I'd like to know something about having too much dopamine:

1. What behaviour is result of having too much dopamine?
2. Why does it happen?

I am aiming to get insight in disease states associated with excess dopamine, not drug-induced states.

**Tags:** neuroscience, neurophysiology, neuropsychology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: There has been done studies that overactive dopamine system may result in schizophrenia. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC33999/  
> **username_2**: Many psychostimulant drugs (cocain, meth etc.) induce DA release. Treatment with DA antagonists may in the end induce a state resembling an excess of DA transmission in the brain. The behavioral effects of both scenarios are very different. Perhaps your question needs some specification?  
> **username_0**: @ChrisStronks What should I specify?  
> **username_2**: Perhaps specify the area of research you are targeting (drugs/disease/...); you could specify brain areas where it occurs; you could think about acute versus chronic effects; - as of now the question is quite broad and hard to answer. Just trying to help. It's interesting material! –  
> **username_0**: I think the problem is that I have very narrow knowledge of the topic. I'm targeting for disease (not result of drugs) and I'm looking for something that is basically inverse of ADHD - so the the same brain areas as those that are lacking dopamine during ADD/ADHD syndrome.  
> **username_2**: I would add that info to the question! I could give you a load of info on drug-induced stuff but now I'm happy I didn't :)  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-08-16. Score: 4

Too much dopamine release in the striatum may lead to **psychosis**, and especially to the [**positive symptoms**](http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/index.shtml) associated with this disease (e.g., **delusions** and **hallucinations**, as opposed to the [negative symptoms](http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/index.shtml) such as a flattened affect) [(Laruelle *et al*., 1999)](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lawrence_Kegeles/publication/12903744_Increased_dopamine_transmission_in_schizophrenia_Relationship_to_illness_phases/links/0f31753c96c7489af8000000.pdf).

The *etiology of psychosis* is complex. Many direct and indirect **environmental factors** are implicated, as well as **genetic factors**. Environmental factors include obstetric complications and frequent cannabis or amphetamine use. The environmental factors are all implicated stronger in psychosis than genetic causes. Genetic predisposition and environmental factors may also interact in complex ways in the development of psychosis [(Howes & Kapur, 2009)](http://schizophreniabulletin.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/3/549.full.pdf+html).

**References**  
**-** [Howes & Kapur, *Schizophrenia Bulletin* (2009); **35**(3): 549–62](http://schizophreniabulletin.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/3/549.full.pdf+html)  
**-** [Laruelle *et al*., *Biol Psychiatry* (1999); **46**:56–72](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lawrence_Kegeles/publication/12903744_Increased_dopamine_transmission_in_schizophrenia_Relationship_to_illness_phases/links/0f31753c96c7489af8000000.pdf)


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### Answer by username_3 on 2015-08-17. Score: -3

I came across this list of effects of dopamine on cognition (from the book "[Cupid's poisoned arrow](http://www.heal-yourself.com.au/Cupids_Poisoned_Arrow.html)").

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/7IcKU.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/7IcKU.png)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Although there may be some truth in this, the source's author is a lawyer and the book is not really scientific huffingtonpost.com/marnia-robinson -1  
> **username_3**: The book has dozens of other article references, I need to look up to see if they are referencing any particular scientific studies as a source for this list.  

---

