Music triggers dopamine through the brain’s reward circuit—when a beat or melody hits the right pitch, the nucleus accumbens fires, sending a dopamine burst that feels pleasurable. Faster tempos and unexpected chord changes tend to spike that release more than slow, predictable tunes. If you’re engineering a playlist, mix in high‑energy tracks at the start, sprinkle in some unpredictable drops or key shifts, and keep the overall structure tight so the brain can anticipate the reward. Just remember, too much dopamine stimulation can become habit‑forming, so balance the excitement with quieter, more contemplative pieces.