National Transformation Initiative

Many argue that pleasure is one of the most rewarding sensory, emotional, and chemical experiences we can have in life. Our brain is constantly releasing chemical messengers that filter throughout the nervous system and other areas of the body, which is what we may feel when we understand we are having an overall sensory experience.

Dopamine, the messenger of pleasure responses, significantly influences brain function in many ways. In particular, it affects the nucleus accumbens, a.k.a. the brain’s “reward center”. Reward and pleasure are both such powerful brain stimulators because they dictate how our memories are stored and structured. Dopamine is not only a pleasure creator, it’s also a pleasure regulator. That means it can reach the midbrain, which is better known as the “survival center” of the brain. If you’ve ever wondered why addictions are such hard things to kick, it’s because dopamine can signal to the brain that these pleasurable feelings and resulting rewards are part of our very survival.

Transformation with access to knowledge for research and personal development

12 Ways Libraries Are Good for the Country From preserving our past to breaking down boundaries, libraries serve to improve our democracy and our lives. Learn twelve ways they improve our country in this tribute to libraries.