Dopamine Rush (2014)
Acrylic and mixed media on board, mounted on wood
84.1 x 59.4cm
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, a substance that passes information from one neuron to the next in the tiny spaces between them. It’s released when the brain predicts a reward – in this case potential gambling profits. Some people are susceptible to compulsive gambling because their reward circuitry is naturally underactive—which may explain why they seek greater thrills (and dopamine highs) to start with.