Modulating dopamine release at random intervals, similar to casino reward schedules, can help maintain engagement in desired activities over time.

“However, if the reward arrives intermittently almost randomly, so you anticipate a reward as a maybe it might come, it might come. Then you work, work, work, work, work, no reward. You repeat the work, work, work, work, work, work, and then you get a reward. So some trials, you do some trials, you don't, and it's completely random. Under those conditions, the amplitude, the amount of dopamine that's released into your system and the motivation to continue working hard or playing whatever kind of game you're playing, doubles or triples.”