Cold Showers and Dopamine: The Science, Research, & Benefits

Dopamine, commonly referred to as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, plays an essential role in our sensations of reward, motivation, and pleasure. Surprisingly, cold showers can be a potent stimulant of this neurotransmitter, turning the everyday act of showering into a powerful neurochemical event.

Cold showers increase dopamine levels in the body by triggering the “fight or flight” response, releasing norepinephrine, which also leads to dopamine release. This can positively impact mood, motivation, focus, and pleasure. Repeated cold exposure may enhance the brain’s dopamine response.

In fact, one study found cold water at 14 degrees Celsius (57 degrees Fahrenheit) increased dopamine by 250%!

In this comprehensive article, we’ll plunge into the intriguing relationship between cold showers and dopamine. We’ll discover how cold showers can act as powerful stimulants and explore the science behind this neurochemical phenomenon, examining the potential benefits of heightened dopamine—including improved memory, creativity, energy levels, and stress reduction.

Additionally, we’ll investigate how cold showers might offer protection against neurodegenerative disorders and their potential role in treating depression and ADHD.

Let’s get to it!

How Do Cold Showers Increase Dopamine?

When you first step into a cold shower, your body goes into a slight state of shock. This is because the cold water is a stressor. To respond to this sudden drop in temperature, your body initiates the “fight or flight” response, which is essentially an evolutionary mechanism to handle immediate threats.

The “fight or flight” response prompts the release of norepinephrine, another neurotransmitter closely related to dopamine. Norepinephrine helps you stay alert and focused and plays a role in the body’s stress response. Interestingly, the pathways in the brain that produce norepinephrine also produce dopamine. So, when cold showers stimulate the release of norepinephrine, dopamine is often released as a byproduct.

Cold exposure, especially through cold showers, activates the brain’s “blue spot,” technically called the locus coeruleus. This area is the primary source of norepinephrine in the brain, and as we’ve mentioned earlier, where there’s norepinephrine, there’s dopamine.