This real-life story is an excellent example of the interplay between dopamine and the H&N chemical of fight or flight, norepinephrine. When the steering mechanism broke, norepinephrine kicked in. The H&N emotion of fear overwhelmed the sailor. He just wanted to get out of the situation. At first, the initial neurochemical H&N flood displaced his dopaminergic ability to plan. Nevertheless, the fact that he could sense that panic was on the way, but was able to hold it off, is an indication that his dopamine system had not shut down completely.
