Definition
Tonic vs phasic separates sustained baseline-like dopamine tone from brief bursts tied to prediction error — not interchangeable in coaching metaphors.
Origin
Midbrain dopamine neurons show phasic responses to reward prediction errors; tonic levels relate to ongoing engagement and instrumental behaviour in Schultz’s review synthesis.
Mechanism
Pop “dopamine detox” narratives often collapse both layers into one washout curve — the library keeps them separate. Phasic = surprise relative to expectation; tonic = slower context for movement and vigour.
Applications
Before you moralize a mood dip, ask: is this a prediction-error story (cue changed) or a tonic load story (sleep, stress, context)?
Sources
Cite
- Schultz, W. (2016). Dopamine reward prediction-error signalling: A two-component response. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 17, 183–195.