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Everyone has something[br]that motivates them.

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For some people [br]it's money.

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For some,[br]it maybe recognition,

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and others,[br]maybe chocolate.

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If you're one [br]of my research animals,

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it's the beloved Froot Loops.

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They absolutely love [br]these as treats.

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They're easy for them [br]to put in their mouth,

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and most importantly,

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they're packed with sugar.

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In our lab, we study[br]the brain chemical dopamine.

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Dopamine is involved in movement,

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most notably implicated[br]in Parkinson's disease,

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motivation and reward.

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We study dopamine

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in relation to learning[br]and memory tasks.

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Our rats learn[br]to run in a maze,

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and if they complete[br]the task correctly,

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they receive [br]a food reward at the end.

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We study and record[br]when dopamine is released

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as the rats are completing[br]these tasks.

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Look, he is even smiling![br](Laughter)

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Dopamine helps activate[br]the learning centers in the brain.

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So if dopamine is released

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as you're learning something,

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it will help you [br]remember that information

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at a later date.

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For example,[br]

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I had a chemistry professor [br]on the very first day of class,

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do an intense reaction[br]with lots of flames and smoke.

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He then explained

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how and why this chemical [br]reaction took place.

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This reaction was done

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just using regular [br]tap water and sodium.

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After he explained [br]how this reaction worked,

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I'll never forget exactly

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how those electrons[br]are moved in that reaction.

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Is likely as this reaction [br]was taking place,

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dopamine was being released[br]in my brain.

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Of course, since I don't have[br]any of our labs electrodes

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placed in my brain,[br]we won't know for sure.

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On the left[br]is a picture of the electrodes

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we build in our lab.

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The electrode ink consists [br]of a single strand of carbon fiber.

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It's about one-tenth the diameter[br]of the strand of human hair.

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We then implant these electrodes

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in freely moving animals,

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and record[br]when dopamine is released,

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as they complete maze tasks.

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As you can see,

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the rat brain is very small.

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It's about the size of a nickel.

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And the area of the brain[br]that we're trying to reach,

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is about the size of a pea.

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We implant these electrodes[br]in an area of the brain,[br]

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that's known to have[br]a high number of dopamine neurons.

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One of my main hobbies [br]is photography.

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So, [br]for the background of my talk,

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I thought I would take you[br]all on a tour of my lab,

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by way of my photography.

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These are just[br]a few of the things

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we use in our lab

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to help us record dopamine.

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So what can we do [br]to increase dopamine in our brain?

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Exercise, is a great way[br]to increase dopamine.

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Exercise will increase [br]dopamine release in your brain,

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as well as other neural chemicals,

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such as endorphin

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which are the brain's [br]natural painkillers.

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Eating properly,

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is another great way [br]to increase dopamine.

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Specifically, [br]eating fruits rich in tyrosine,

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which is a precursor to dopamine,

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will help, increase the available [br]dopamine in the brain.

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Fruits rich in tyrosine

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include things such as: Avocados,

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almonds and bananas.

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Another great way [br]to release dopamine,

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is doing something [br]rewarding to you.

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This can be a something

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as easy as checking something [br]of your to do list,

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or perhaps volunteering[br]on a community center.

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And of course,

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one of my personal favorite ways,[br]to increase dopamine,

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is sex.[br](Laughter)

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Sex release as many beneficial[br]chemicals in the brain

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in addition to dopamine,

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such as oxytocin,

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which is implicated [br]in human bonding.

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Serotonin,

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which relates to happiness[br]and a feeling of well-being.

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And norepinephrine,

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which increase our alertness.

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So how can we use[br]these information?

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Professors can develop [br]new and exciting ways,

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to deliver information to students.

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It doesn't have [br]to be as exciting

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as involving flames and explosion

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like my chemistry professor.

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It can be as simple as[br]

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having students [br]do a hands-on experience,

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or perhaps using[br]the students as props

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to explain a difficult concept.

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Professors, get away[br]from the traditional monologue lectures.[br]

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It'll be more rewarding[br]for the professors,

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and will stimulate the students[br]to promote long-term learning.

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Let's get[br]those dopamine neurons firing.

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Thank you.[br](Applause)