If you drop sugar water on a newborn’s tongue, the baby will express a happy expression. If you ask a newborn to taste a bitter substance, the baby will frown. This indicates that a newborn’s reaction to sugar water is not learned, but rather genetically programmed. Sweet foods stimulate the dopamine reward circuit in the brain, making us feel happy. The pleasure of dopamine has been present in the human brain since prehistoric times. Dopamine can be seen as a reward for hard work. Pleasure is so powerful that it sometimes overpowers physiological urges. The mechanism of dopamine and pleasure is called the reward system. Stimulating the reward system network releases the feel-good substance dopamine, which appears to give humans a sense of “fun.”
When children face challenges and become engrossed in something they are interested in, both the left and right hemispheres of the brain are actively engaged in problem-solving. During problem-solving, both the left and right hemispheres of the brain experience a significant increase in dopamine secretion in both the temporal lobes. This dopamine release increases motivation and leads to a lively, curious brain. The brain is uniquely activated when faced with something new or unexplored. The amygdala, a part of the brain, sorts all kinds of emotions, such as likes and dislikes, comfort and discomfort. Dopamine is a reward-related neurotransmitter released by the amygdala. As we become smarter, we experience pleasure.
Knowledge is not something that is handed down to us by others; it is something we create ourselves. Learning simply through what teachers give us is a top-down, “transmission-based” approach. When children begin to determine the meaning of their learning, they become “autonomous,” proposing their own meanings. This autonomy is crucial for children’s development. In today’s society, we need to raise autonomous children, rather than relying on others. Repeated experiences of success and a sense of accomplishment lead to pleasure. Having fun makes learning more fun, and your brain becomes more active. Dopamine improves memory and creates feelings of comfort, accomplishment, and motivation. Information gained through experiences such as seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, and tasting is transmitted to the amygdala.
Children’s concentration improves when they tackle tasks while using their bodies and minds. Increasing opportunities for children to take action on their own and make repeated mistakes will benefit their growth and development. They can also experience a sense of accomplishment on an ongoing basis as they grow. Continuing to experience a sense of accomplishment will help smooth the secretion of dopamine. If this cycle continues, children’s development may also become smoother.
