MasterClass, the online education platform known for its celebrity and expert-led courses, has launched a new class titled Dopamine: Take Your Brain Back taught by Dr. Anna Lembke, a Stanford University psychiatrist and bestselling author. The course aims to help members understand how modern life can overload the brain’s dopamine-driven reward pathways and offers a structured plan to restore balance, improve focus and reclaim joy amid pervasive digital and lifestyle distractions.
Dr. Lembke, chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Clinic and author of the acclaimed Dopamine Nation, guides learners through the neuroscience of dopamine, the brain’s “motivation molecule,” and how everyday behaviors—such as endless scrolling, binge-watching, overworking and excessive snacking—can overwhelm the brain’s reward system. The new MasterClass combines accessible scientific explanation with practical behavior-change strategies designed for a wide audience.
At the core of the course is a 30-Day Dopamine Reset plan that helps members identify and pause compulsive behaviors, rebalance neural reward pathways and rebuild sustained motivation. The program includes tools and techniques to reduce “dopamine overload,” such as setting digital boundaries, deleting distracting apps, creating “no scroll” zones at home and using time-tracking to cultivate intentional habits.
Participants also receive a clear checklist of early signs that the brain’s reward system is out of balance—such as brain fog, low energy, irritability and diminished enjoyment in previously rewarding activities—and learn specific practices to restore equilibrium. These include brief cold water exposure, moderate exercise, deep breathing sessions and guided journaling to enhance mood and support mental resilience.
Dr. Lembke emphasizes the importance of reclaiming attention and intentionality in a world engineered for constant stimulation. “The world is engineered for overconsumption,” she says. “We all need a way to reclaim our time, attention and joy. Through this class, I hope members will recognize that change is possible—and that by using novel and sometimes counterintuitive ways to reset our brain’s reward pathways, we can restore balance, rediscover motivation, and take joy in the things that truly matter.”
The dopamine class is available now exclusively to MasterClass members, who also have unlimited access to more than 200 other instructor-led courses across disciplines ranging from business and wellness to arts and technology.
