Endogenously Reducing Dopamine

An interesting article in Time magazine (January 12, 2011) regarding the enhancement of cognitive performance discussed the use of Adderall (a stimulant) to improve cognitive performance by increasing levels of dopamine. However, it was found that there was no statistically significant difference in cognitive performance of Adderall relative to a placebo, suggesting that you can get the same dopamine boosting benefits of the drug by believing you will do well which itself releases dopamine. This is an example of the mind coming into play to influence bodily functions (in this case, cognition which is a function of the brain).


In a previous post (Parkinsons Disease, Dopamine, and Stuttering), we pointed out that patients suffering from Parkinsons disease who received a placebo showed a substantial increase of dopamine activity according to brain imaging results. So we speculated that a nocebo-like effect of context on stuttering might also increase the level of dopamine activity in the brains of stutterers, thus negatively affecting their fluency.

We can turn this argument around and ask whether or not a placebo, which could be an endogenously influenced state of mind, might reduce dopaminergic activity and hence improve fluency. This endogenous mind state might be produced solely by the individual himself through some sort of mental manipulation.

Consider the case of King George VI as depicted in the film, The Kings Speech.  We should not automatically assume that the success of King George VI in giving his wartime speech with relative fluency was due solely from fluency shaping techniques and modifications in the mechanics of his speech suggested by his therapist. We should also consider the possibility that he harnessed his mind in such a way as to generate a placebo-like effect whereby the dopaminergic activity in the relevant parts of his brain actually decreased. Granted, the king had a cheerleader in the form of his therapist (who may be regarded as an exogenous influence), but nevertheless we must consider the possibility of purely endogenous influences as well.

There are anecdotal reports of individuals achieving similar effects--namely the attorney who was fluent in a professional setting but would stutter with friends and family, and the college professor who claimed to be able to "psyche himself up" prior to teaching a class through some sort of mental preparation so as to lecture fluently. The mechanisms by which this happens are obscure and resistant to simple codification such as "pop this pill one hour before..." The "buttons" that are pressed and the "switches" that are flipped in the mind to activate the "internal cheer leader" and to achieve these feats are unknown. Yet, consider the possibility that it could be done by some individuals.

The manipulation of dopaminergic activity through endogenous brain states might be comparable to the modification of the neurotransmitter endorphin levels claimed by practitioners of meditation techniques. But with meditation, there exists a well codified regimen, if practiced leads to the desired results.

It is not clear whether all stutterers can control their fluency by manipulating their endogenous mind states or if this approach is limited to a subset based perhaps on the intensity of the underlying physical cause of stuttering (rated on a scale of 1 to 10). It may be that only those individuals with relatively mild physical causes of stuttering (and presumably lower dopaminergic disfunction) can achieve fluency by endogenously manipulating their mind states.