Neural frustration system - EN-US

About this model

In English

This diagram models a neurochemical reward system, illustrating the complex interactions between dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin, cortisol, and desire within the human body. The system begins with source nodes representing various neurochemicals and an interactive action node. These sources feed into pool nodes labeled with the names of the neurochemicals (Dopamine, Noradrenalin, Serotonin, Cortisol) and a Desire pool. The flow of resources between these pools and toward drain nodes simulates the consumption of neurochemicals, representing processes such as homeostasis satisfaction and the dissipation of stress. The model also features automatic and interval-based resource transfers, state connections that modify the flow based on conditions (such as the production and dissolution rates of neurochemicals, and the triggering of further actions), and end conditions reflecting decision points like "Give up".

The setting reveals a system dynamic where actions trigger the release of dopamine, which in turn activates noradrenaline production. Noradrenaline drives the anticipation of serotonin production, a reward feedback loop, while also stimulating cortisol production, associated with stress and the urge to act. Drains symbolize the consumption or dissipation of these neurochemicals, mirroring the body's return to neurochemical equilibrium or homeostasis satisfaction. The interactive elements and conditions incorporated into the diagram suggest a feedback mechanism that could represent addictive behaviors, stress responses, or other psychological and physiological processes related to the neurochemical reward system, emphasizing the balance—or imbalance—that actions can create within the system.

“Neural frustration system - EN-US” is a public Machinations diagram by Henrique Campos, shared in the Machinations Community.

Sources, pools, drains and end conditions appear in the author's description of how it works. Names that appear in the description include “Give up”. The description mentions feedback loops, where the output of one part of the system returns as an input to it.

You can open the original diagram in the Machinations app, press Play to watch how resources move through it, and change its values to see how the system responds. Machinations is a visual tool for designing, simulating and balancing game economies and other systems, where resources flow through sources, pools, drains, converters and gates. In a diagram, a source creates resources, a pool stores them, a drain removes them, a converter changes one resource into another and a gate decides where they go next.