Dopamine headphones will get you high while listening to music
Dopamine headphones have been invented and the point is to have your brain release dopamine and get high on more than just the music.
The dopamine headphones were created by Nervana, a tech company based in Florida. Innovation in headphones seems to be happening all the time, with new takes on easy to wear and smart head phones appearing on the market on a regular rotation.
Just the other day we reported on headphones from which you could tweet your favourite tracks, only now, we have the release of a set of dopamine headphones that has been designed to get you feeling high and more than likely enjoying the music that much more.
How the dopamine headphones actually work
The dopamine headphones will play music – the way any other set of headphones will, but at the same time they will release a ‘low-power electrical signal through your ear canal to stimulate the Vagus nerve – a nerve that runs from the brainstem to the abdomen’. Ultimately this triggers a neurotransmitter which controls the reward and pleasure centre of the brain.
“I felt the electricity go into my arm, and everything was tingling there, but the best moment for me was afterwards when I finished and stood up. I felt like I reached a personal high point. I couldn’t stop smiling or laughing. I was like, ‘Oh wow’. For about 5 minutes, my happiness level was a 10 out of 10. Then it got foggier, but I was still unusually happy for about an hour.” wrote Amanda Gutterman for Futurism.
Not just any electric signal
The dopamine headphones don’t just pump out the electrical signals any which way. The technology in the headphones analyses the audio signal coming out of the music and then it syncs up to match the beats.
You could also select ‘ambient mode’ and the headphones will sync up to sounds in your environment.
There has been no background research published by Nervana regarding the dopamine headphones, so it is yet to be confirmed that they can actually make you high when wearing them.
“[We’re] not going to recommend driving, certainly not while using it.” Said Nervana CEO, Ami Brannon to Mic
Dopamine headphones will go on sale next month and retail at US$299 (R 4,500)
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