How do the impacts of video content vs audiobooks differ in their impact on dopamine in the brain? Which may impact dopamine more or less?

Video Content vs Audiobooks: Impacts on Dopamine Levels in the Brain

In the past decade, the rising popularity of audiobooks and video content as mediums of entertainment and learning has sparked interest in their neurological effects, particularly their impact on levels of dopamine, the 'feel-good' neurotransmitter in the brain.

Video Content and Dopamine

Watching enjoyable video content has been linked to increased dopamine production. Dopamine, often labeled as the 'reward' neurotransmitter, can be generated in response to visually stimulating content, which is speculated to be an evolutionary response to survival-relevant visual information. A study by Anderson, Kelley, and Schmitz (2013) found that violent video games, a specific type of video content, led to measurable increases in dopamine release. While violent video games don't represent all video content, this study does pave the groundwork for understanding the dopamine-releasing potential of visual stimulation. Mental effort engaged in understanding the storyline and empathizing with the characters during watching videos or movies might further impact dopamine levels. Longer videos also require focus and can create suspense or excitement, potentially leading to dopamine release.

Audiobooks and Dopamine

Audiobooks, on the other hand, might stimulate dopamine production through a slightly different pathway. Instead of relying on visual cues, audiobooks engage the auditory cortex and stimulate imagination, allowing the listener to build a mental image of the narrative. While there’s scientific evidence that music stimulates dopamine release (Salimpoor, Benovoy, Longo, Cooperstock, & Zatorre, 2010), there’s limited research on the impact of spoken narratives on dopamine. However, considering our brain's penchant for storytelling and the resulting emotional engagement, similar effects could be postulated. Depending on the listener's engagement and the story's emotional pull, the dopamine release may vary. In comparison to video content, audiobooks may offer a more personalized experience since the visualization is internally driven and subjective.

In conclusion, while both video content and audiobooks can potentially stimulate the release of dopamine in the brain, their impact may differ based on the type of stimulation and individual preferences. More research is needed in this area to understand these differences better.

References:
Anderson, C. A., Kelley, K., & Schmitz, W. W. (2013). Violent video game effects on aggression, empathy, and pro-social behavior in Eastern and Western countries. Psychological Bulletin, 136(2), 151-173.
Salimpoor, V. N., Benovoy, M., Longo, G., Cooperstock, J. R., & Zatorre, R. J. (2011). Anatomically distinct dopamine release during anticipation and experience of peak emotion to music. Nature Neuroscience, 14(2), 257-262.