Dopamine is everywhere—on podcasts, in productivity hacks, in conversations about addiction, motivation, and “dopamine detox.” But what does neuroscience actually say? In this lecture, Lucas Encarnacion-Rivera, PhD candidate in Neuroscience at Stanford University School of Medicine, cuts through the hype to separate fact from fiction about the brain’s most talked-about neurotransmitter. Together, we’ll explore what dopamine really does, what it doesn’t do, and how it shapes motivation, reward, learning, and everyday behavior. Drawing on cutting-edge research in computational and systems neuroscience, Lucas will explain how dopamine fits into the brain’s broader systems regulating drive and action—offering a grounded, science-based perspective on a chemical that’s often misunderstood. Event schedule: 7:00-7:35 arrival & chats, 7:35-8:20 lecture, 8:20-9:00 q&a and more chatting. 21+.