Scientists have spent years observing with the help of scanners how and when the pleasure circuit is activated in the human brain . "As it is logical to suppose, this circuit is activated by 'vicious' stimuli such as orgasm , the intake of sweet and fatty foods , economic rewards and some psychoactive substances (tobacco, drugs …)", explains neuroscientist David J Linden in his book The Compass of Pleasure. These experiences cause the release of dopamine in a series of brain regions (nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex, dorsal striatum and amygdala) that generate a pleasant sensation, and the acts that have preceded or coincided with them end up being associated with positive memories . But the surprising thing is that many behaviors that we consider virtuous have similar effects on the brain : voluntary physical exercise, certain forms of meditation and prayer, social approval and donating money can intensely activate the pleasure circuit. "The virtues and the vices constitute a neural unit: pleasure is the compass that guides us, regardless of the path we take," concludes Linden.
Why do sports, sex, meditate and donate money cause the same pleasure?
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