If You are having a hard time staying motivated to play guitar, it might mean that you are low on dopamine by the time you want to play your guitar. Dopamine helps you stay motivated to do tasks like playing the guitar. Dopamine levels are high in the morning and drop throughout the day. Also, playing video games before practicing your guitar may be lowering your motivation to play the guitar.

If you are a gamer, play guitar first and then play video games as a reward. Or, you may be doing a different activity that also produces a lot of dopamine, such as “doom scrolling.” I would keep a journal or think deeply on your activities throughout the day and take notes when you are the most motivated to do tasks, especially practice the guitar. Try practicing at the times when you feel the most motivated. That time just might be 7am. Good luck and keep playing guitar.

Now, humans produce and release dopamine constantly, as it is a crucial neurotransmitter involved in a wide range of physiological and cognitive functions. Dopamine is produced in several areas of the brain, including the substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area, and is released into various brain regions to exert its effects. However, the levels of dopamine in the brain are tightly regulated, and disruptions in the production, release, or reuptake of dopamine can lead to low levels of the neurotransmitter.

There are several mechanisms through which individuals can experience low levels of dopamine:

1. Reduced synthesis: Dopamine synthesis can be affected by various factors, including nutritional deficiencies or genetic factors that impair the production of dopamine. For example, deficiencies in the amino acid tyrosine, which is a precursor to dopamine, can result in reduced dopamine synthesis.

2. Impaired release: Problems with the release of dopamine from neurons can lead to low levels of dopamine in the brain. For instance, certain medications or drug use can interfere with the release of dopamine, contributing to decreased dopamine signaling.

3. Increased reuptake: Dopamine reuptake refers to the process by which dopamine is taken back up into the presynaptic neuron after it has been released. Conditions or medications that increase dopamine reuptake can effectively reduce the amount of dopamine available to act on postsynaptic neurons, leading to lower levels of dopamine signaling.

4. Neurodegeneration: Conditions such as Parkinson’s disease involve the progressive degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to a significant reduction in dopamine levels in the brain.

When dopamine levels are low, individuals may experience a range of symptoms related to the functions of dopamine, including motor impairments (as seen in Parkinson’s disease), mood disturbances, cognitive deficits, and motivational deficits. The specific symptoms experienced can vary depending on the underlying cause of the low dopamine levels.

It’s important to note that the regulation of dopamine levels is a complex process involving multiple interacting factors, and disruptions at various points in the dopamine signaling pathway can lead to low levels of dopamine. Understanding the mechanisms underlying low dopamine levels is crucial for the development of targeted treatments for conditions associated with dopamine dysregulation.