Why it works… The science stuff

TL;DR: Your brain loves swinging between high energy and deep calm. This game trains that rhythm, making you more emotionally resilient in real life while having ridiculous fun.

The Neuroscience Behind the Fun

Your body loves pendulation — the natural rhythm between high energy and deep rest. It's how we process stress, build emotional resilience, and stay socially connected.

DopaMayhem is built around that rhythm. You swing from dopamine-spiking hilarity to grounding calm over and over — a joyful rollercoaster for your nervous system.

What's Actually Happening in Your Brain:

Dopamine Boosting (Activation)
Movement, novelty, and laughter spike dopamine — your brain's reward chemical. That's why SOLO + SQUAD cards feel so good (1).

Nervous System Flexibility (Resilience)
Alternating between stimulation and rest improves your nervous system's flexibility and recovery from stress (2).

Laughter & Social Bonding
Laughing together releases oxytocin, lowers cortisol, and builds trust (even with strangers) (3).

Somatic Grounding (Regulation)
RESET cards guide you into breathwork, touch, and visualization to activate your parasympathetic nervous system (4).

Real-Life Carryover

Every time you shift between chaos and calm in this game, you're training your body to do it more easily in real life.

So when you're actually angry, anxious, or overwhelmed — your brain knows how to come back down. These techniques can support emotional regulation and help your system reset faster (5).

This Isn't Just Play — It's Practice

Every laugh, every breath, every grounded moment is building your emotional strength. It's joy with depth. Fun with benefits.

And the best part? You'll feel it long after the game ends.

Sources:

(1) Wise, R.A., & Koob, G.F. (2014). The development and maintenance of drug addiction. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 15(8), 469–486.

(2) Levine, P.A. (1997). Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma. North Atlantic Books.

(3) Dunbar, R.I.M., et al. (2012). Social laughter is correlated with an elevated pain threshold. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 279(1731), 1161–1167.

(4) Zaccaro, A., et al. (2018). How breath-control can change your life: A systematic review on psychophysiological correlates of slow breathing. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 12, 353.

(5)Porges, S.W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation. W.W. Norton & Company.

Disclaimer: DopaMayhem is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition. Game content is inspired by established neuroscience research and wellness practices for general enjoyment, connection, and self-awareness.