dopamine wave pool

The "dopamine wave pool" is an analogy used to describe the natural fluctuations of dopamine levels and how they affect motivation. This analogy illustrates that just as waves in a wave pool rise and fall, dopamine levels similarly experience peaks and troughs. High peaks, such as those caused by substances like cocaine or amphetamines, lead to significant troughs, reducing the overall 'water' (dopamine) in the pool, resulting in a depleted state afterwards.

The concept was discussed in detail on the Huberman Lab, particularly in the context of how high intensity experiences (like certain sexual experiences or high adrenaline activities) can lead to a significant depletion of dopamine, which is followed by a period of low motivation or depression. This fluctuation is crucial for understanding how to manage activities and substances that affect dopamine levels to avoid deep troughs that lead to negative outcomes such as depressive episodes or low libido 1.