Enjoy your high

[Lame Duck]

Over the last few weeks more and more folks got vested in NFL draft.  They watch highlights, they put themselves in NFL scouting shoes, they read twits that support their view and they pick their favorite players.  The question is why?  Well… folks are getting their dopamine fix and they are looking for more. 
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Reward prediction errors in dopamine neurons:

The response to the reward itself disappears when the reward is predicted. But if more than the predicted reward occurs, the dopamine neurons show stronger responses. By contrast, their activity decreases if no, or less than predicted, reward occurs.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4826767/#:~:text=Reward prediction errors in dopamine neurons&text=The response to the reward,less than predicted%2C reward occurs.

Scientists are now naming dopamine as “the anticipation molecule” because it's shown that dopamine is also released in large amounts when we anticipate a pleasurable experience.

So recently with all the Bryce Young news that he’s a sure fire #1 pick.  Bryce Young supporters are tripping on dopamine while CJ Stroud fans are on opposite swing.

The NFL, ESPN and everyone else had major studies done on NFL draft and dopamine over decade ago.  The whole idea is to create uncertainty and debate which generates a ton of revenue during off-season because folks are tripping on dopamine.

This is all by design and NFL and everyone else will milk it until the draft day.  
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Recommendation to all folks.  Be excited but control your excitement.

“It is having flexibility in our expectations and being willing to change track without self-blame that has been shown to increase well-being.” 

So as we can see, there is no template for managing expectations. It seems as if it is best to have low expectations of things out of our control, realistic expectations of things we can control to some degree and high expectations of ourselves.

And, perhaps the greatest truth of all is: always expect the unexpected.

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/14/your-money/the-importance-of-setting-expectations-whether-high-or-low.html

[MHS831]

Explain this in relation to the nucleus accumbens--as you know, the interface between motivation and action.  There is no danger in getting excited about the draft because the anticipated reward is intrinsic and individualized.   Frankly, this process makes me more knowledgeable about the league because I delve into the players' skill sets and backgrounds before the draft--and I follow them as they play for other teams.  If you are looking for an extrinsic reward, then fantasy footballers should know the benefit.  I do not see the message you are sending because it is pure enjoyment for me--and the moment more significant than the deed itself, to me, is the moment of anticipation.  Your response seems to suggest that there is a component of trauma associated with the disappointments associated with draft expectations. Is that a fair statement?  Trauma, whether real or imaginary, triggers the amygdala and that inhibits the functioning of the hippocampus.  That then impacts dopamine because the person enters survival mode--so I am skeptical that the draft has the power to harm dopamine production--but I have not researched it.

To me, it makes the NFL a year-round spectator sport.

Edited April 15, 2023 by MHS831

[stan786]

9 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

Explain this in relation to the nucleus accumbens--as you know, the interface between motivation and action.  There is no danger in getting excited about the draft because the anticipated reward is intrinsic and individualized.   Frankly, this process makes me more knowledgeable about the league because I delve into the players' skill sets and backgrounds before the draft--and I follow them as they play for other teams.  If you are looking for an extrinsic reward, then fantasy footballers should know the benefit.  I do not see the message you are sending because it is pure enjoyment for me--and the moment more significant than the deed itself, to me, is the moment of anticipation.  Your response seems to suggest that there is a component of trauma associated with the disappointments associated with draft expectations. Is that a fair statement?  Trauma, whether real or imaginary, triggers the amygdala and that inhibits the functioning of the hippocampus.  That then impacts dopamine because the person enters survival mode--so I am skeptical that the draft has the power to harm dopamine production--but I have not researched it.

To me, it makes the NFL a year-round spectator sport.

There are ways this draft can send me into survival mode, but choosing one of the QBs is not one of them lol.

I'm just glad the anti Bryce guys are having some time to come to terms with whats happening so they can be a little more positive when his name does get announced.

[Move the Panthers to Raleigh]

I had a small dopamine hit when I learned that we acquired the pick. Not long after, I came down when I realized we are talking about the Carolina Panthers here, a franchise that is capable of fuging up any situation. I’ll get another high if I see a good preseason outing from our rookie QB

[run-run-pass-punt]

The only real thing is *now*, all else is thought and ultimately abstraction.

There *is* no QB the Panthers have picked or will pick. It may or may not occur at all. Only an idea.

[RJK]

I knew this place would be a $hitshow leading up to the draft but I didn’t think it’d get as bad as it is. The forums been basically unreadable for a week now at least 

[Ricky Spanish]

8 minutes ago, RJK said:

I knew this place would be a $hitshow leading up to the draft but I didn’t think it’d get as bad as it is. The forums been basically unreadable for a week now at least 

I honestly thought it would be much much worse, at least from a Mod's perspective.

We've had to get involved very little, most discussion, while vehement and often biased toward another prospect, have remained relatively civil.

[ForJimmy]

[Lame Duck]

This forum will be dead in 3 weeks until early August.

[Wolfcop]

1 hour ago, Move the Panthers to Raleigh said:

I had a small dopamine hit when I learned that we acquired the pick. Not long after, I came down when I realized we are talking about the Carolina Panthers here, a franchise that is capable of fuging up any situation. I’ll get another high if I see a good preseason outing from our rookie QB

I came here to say the same thing. I had my high on March 10 at about 5:30. Its not a high now. More like DTs. 

[Aussie Tank]

Settle down with the big words you lot 

[Aussie Tank]

2 hours ago, Move the Panthers to Raleigh said:

I had a small dopamine hit when I learned that we acquired the pick. Not long after, I came down when I realized we are talking about the Carolina Panthers here, a franchise that is capable of fuging up any situation. I’ll get another high if I see a good preseason outing from our rookie QB

When was the last time they fuged up a 1st round pick? 

Edited April 15, 2023 by Aussie Tank

[MHS831]

You can buy dopamine. I know a guy.

[KatsAzz]

5 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

You can buy dopamine. I know a guy.

Goes by the nick name, "Dopie:. LOL