So why is it fun to drive a car? Scientifically, I mean. The most apt word I can think of to describe the feeling of driving a fast car on a curvy road is exhilaration. Biologically, this is caused by a combination of neurotransmitters and hormones, primarily dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine (also known as adrenaline). These chemicals, when combined, create a feeling of joy, excitement, and increased alertness. Dopamine drives the reward system and is released in response to novel and exciting stimuli. Adrenaline and norepinephrine, on the other hand, prepare the body for action by increasing energy levels through a surge in heart rate, blood pressure, and blood flow to muscles. This neurochemical flood, triggered by events like risky play or falling in love, stimulates various brain systems to produce the psychological experience of intense, pleasurable excitement.
Have you ever been in love? Did you feel happy during that time? You know, nobody really knows why we are rewarded with good natural drugs during certain behaviors—especially something risky or dangerous. You’d think we’d be rewarded for staying home where it’s safe. However, there is also the fact that when we are in dangerous situations, we sometimes need to feel no pain and be fearless. Let’s discuss these chemicals in more detail.
Dopamine, known as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, plays a central role in the brain’s reward system and is released in response to novel or exciting stimuli, thereby creating feelings of pleasure and exhilaration.
Adrenaline/Epinephrine: This combination hormone and neurotransmitter is a core part of the “fight-or-flight” response, leading to an exhilarating surge of energy, increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and increased blood flow to the muscles.
Norepinephrine, working alongside adrenaline, also increases arousal, alertness, and excitement, thereby preparing the body for an intense experience.
How do these chemicals work together? By triggering the response. Novel and exciting situations or activities, such as risky play in children or a new romantic encounter, trigger the release of these neurochemicals. By activating the brain and body. The surge of dopamine, adrenaline, and norepinephrine initiates various physiological responses to sensory and emotional experiences. These chemicals interact with brain systems to create the intense psychological and emotional experience of exhilaration, characterized by joy, euphoria, and heightened arousal.
What about some examples in daily life? Risky play is one. Children engaging in risky play experience a mix of exhilaration and fear, with their bodies responding to the situation. Some examples might be jumping or balancing on high objects or swinging or hanging from them. Another might be running uncontrollably at high speed. Exploring alone is another risky behavior children engage in. These activities can trigger exhilaration and fear.
Driving fast on curved roads or accelerating on an onramp adds risk to the situation. Did I tell you that the Corvette can go from zero to sixty miles per hour in under three seconds? That risk brings a feeling of exhilaration bordering on fear. It is the fear that pulls us back. That is, if everything is working correctly.
Another example I mentioned earlier is romantic attraction. The excitement and euphoria felt when falling in love are linked to the release of dopamine and other neurochemicals associated with reward and attraction.
Then there is winning and risk-taking. Gaining an advantage in a game or taking a calculated risk can lead to increased energy, confidence, and a feeling of being braced for further activity. I think this is why people like gambling. You know, if I win the lottery, maybe I can afford to buy one of these cars for myself.
In an article in Psychology Today, the author refers to these hormones and neurotransmitters as “The Neurochemicals of Happiness.” Our evolutionary biology ensures that everything necessary for our survival makes us feel good. Though I don’t think it’s true that everything that makes us feel good is necessary for survival. The article lists a total of seven neurochemicals linked to happiness: endocannabinoids, dopamine, oxytocin, endorphins, GABA (which we discussed in the menopause series), Serotonin, and Adrenaline.
The only one of these I hadn’t heard of is endocannabinoids. This is not marijuana, but acts like it. It is self-produced cannabis. The PT article refers to it as “The Bliss Molecule.” One study suggested that this substance is responsible for the phenomenon known as “runner’s high”.
I’m not going to go into everything the article says, but one very intriguing thing is that it offers ways to trigger these chemicals in your daily life. I highly recommend you read it, and it will be linked in the blog post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/435.
The feeling of driving fast is a complex psycho-physical experience driven by an adrenaline rush, increased dopamine, and heightened senses. Physically, your heart races and blood flow increases, while mentally, you experience tunnel vision and accelerated thought processes, which can lead to feelings of power, excitement, and sometimes fear. The sensation can be amplified by factors like wind, engine noise, and a lowered car position, making it a powerful and potentially addictive experience, similar to other thrilling activities.
You have to be careful, though. The thrill of driving fast can lead to feelings of overconfidence or invincibility, which can impair decision-making. And it can be stressful as you feel that lack of control.
I think I like it. I may not get to do anything like this again, or maybe I will. But it was definitely worth it. And we can see that, scientifically, driving for fun can bring happiness, albeit for a short time.
And so remember, if you’ve got the fever, keep it burning, and if you don’t, catch the fever, and I’ll see you next time on Running: A FEVER.
References:
https://tinyurl.com/raf-exilaration
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2304/ciec.2009.10.2.92#:~:text=Abstract,risk%20and%20urge%20for%20exhilaration.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201211/the-neurochemicals-of-happiness
https://tinyurl.com/raf-driving-fast