From the Research
Color itself does not directly cause dopamine release in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in reward, motivation, and pleasure, and its release is typically triggered by experiences like eating food, social interaction, or achieving goals. While colors can influence mood and emotions through psychological associations and cultural conditioning, there is no strong scientific evidence showing that simply viewing colors directly triggers dopamine release. However, colors can indirectly affect our emotional state and behavior, which might subsequently influence our neurochemistry. For example, environments with preferred colors might create positive feelings that could be associated with well-being, but this is different from colors themselves causing a neurochemical response.
The relationship between visual stimuli like color and brain chemistry is complex and involves multiple neural pathways beyond simple cause-and-effect relationships with specific neurotransmitters like dopamine. Some studies, such as 1, have explored the effects of light stimuli on dopamine release in specific contexts, like the retina of teleost fish, but these findings do not directly translate to the human brain's response to color. Other research, like 2, discusses the potential link between color perception and dopamine in the context of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), suggesting that impairments in color perception might be related to dopaminergic functioning, but this does not imply that color itself causes dopamine release.
In terms of the most recent and highest quality evidence, studies focusing on dopamine release and its triggers do not support the notion that color viewing directly causes dopamine release. For instance, 3 discusses the use of fast-scan cyclic voltammetry to monitor dopamine levels and the effects of various substances on dopamine release and uptake, without mentioning color as a trigger. Similarly, 4 reviews the roles of methylphenidate in symptom management, highlighting its effects on dopamine and norepinephrine levels, but does not address color as a factor in dopamine release.
Given the complexity of neurochemical responses and the indirect influence of colors on mood and emotions, it is crucial to understand that the relationship between color and dopamine is not straightforward. While colors can have psychological effects and may influence behavior and emotional states, which in turn could affect neurochemistry, the scientific evidence does not support the claim that color directly causes dopamine release in the human brain.