...Motivation and the Brain Judith Alvarez PSY/355 November 26, 2012 Steve Northam Motivation and the Brain Motivation is driven by reward. Whether it is a promotion, a paycheck, good grades or recognition, there is a part of the brain that fires up when there is a reward. The portion of the brain that fires up when there is reward is located in the limbic system portion of the brain. It is here in the limbic system where the brain controls and regulates the ability to feel pleasure. It is like a chain reaction- a particular behavior leads to a reward, which leads to a feeling of pleasure, which motivates us to repeat the particular behavior that led to a reward, which led to that feeling of pleasure, and so on and so on. When all of this is going on, it is the limbic system that is activated. The limbic system also regulates our emotions, both good and bad ones. The two structures of the limbic system are amygdala and the hippocampus. They both play important roles in memory. The amygdala determines what memories are stored and where they are stored within the brain. This determination is based upon the response that is brought up during the memory. The hippocampus sends memories out to the correct parts of the brain, for long term storage of memories. The hippocampus is also responsible for recovering those memories when necessary. Motivation for Drug Use Drugs have the ability to literally change a person’s brain. Excessive drug use can shrink a hippocampus...
Words: 1105 - Pages: 5
...Motivation and the Brain PSY/355 The Motivation and the Brain Letting loose and a have a great time is something people look forward to most weekends. Some dancing, a couple of drinks, and a good hookup are what most would call a good time. There are some that need to supplement their good time with some recreational drugs. This takes their experience to another level. Everything is intensified. The colors are brighter, the drinks are better, and the sexes all look fantastic. What other motivation do you need to continue? How about people who are dealing with stressors that are driving them up the wall and to the edge of insanity. The family is falling apart, their job is terrible, and they can barely, if at all, make ends meet. That all changes when you take that drug. In that time frame the weight of the world is lifted off your shoulders. You can laugh, you can sing, and be merry or you can just sink in to a world of mental bliss unknown to men who never had the drug before. Just with these two scenarios, what would motivate them to refrain for using drugs? These drugs are improving the quality of their lives, in their opinion. A quote from Edgar Allen Poe States: “I have absolutely no pleasure in the stimulants in which I sometimes so madly indulge. It has not been in the pursuit of pleasure that I have periled life and reputation and reason. It has been the desperate attempt to escape from torturing memories, from a sense of insupportable loneliness and a dread of...
Words: 1140 - Pages: 5
...Motivation and The Brain Malisha Mishoe PSY 355 January 9, 2011 Dr. Peters Motivation and The Brain Motivation and the Brain Motivation is at its core potential in nature, only finding a kinetic outlet when behavior is facilitated. Motivation can be liken to a large boulder being suspended on a hill by the small, wooden peg of choice. The boulder stores only potential energy while withheld on top of the hill, but by acting upon the small, wooden peg of choice motivation can be translated into kinetic energy—behavior (i.e. the boulder rolling down the hill). Achievement motivation theory dictates that incentive value, the attractiveness of an incentive as determined by number or amount, is mediated by the tendency to succeed (Ts) and the tendency to avoid failure (Taf) (Deckers, 2005). The actual inclination to exhibit the potential energy of motivation as the kinetic energy of behavior is the sum of the tendency to succeed and the tendency to avoid failure (Ts + Taf). Thus, the motivation to eat healthy is suspended in potential energy, pending a choice arbitrated by the sum of Ts and Taf, and finding expression as behavior—kinetic energy. Furthermore, important to the discussion of the motivation to eat healthy are the underlying neurological structures involved in the sensation of hunger and satiety, intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and the environmental and biological basis of anorexia nervosa and obesity. Neurological Structures of Hunger and Satiety In the 1930’s...
Words: 1375 - Pages: 6
...The Brain and Motivation PSY/355 August 29, 2011 The Brain and Motivation In this paper we are going to analyze the brain structures and functions associated with the motivation to engage in refraining from using drugs. This is the steps in which the structure and functions will be explained: • Study of the brain and motivation • Evaluate the influence of extrinsic factors • Evaluate the influence of intrinsic factors • Heredity and environmental factors A number of factors influence the brain structures and functions associated with the motivation to refrain from using drugs. The dynamics involved include intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, heredity, and environmental forces. In general, internal motivation is considered to be associated with long-term behavior modification, whereas the successful outcome of external motivation can be short lived (AllPsychologyCareers.com). Function of the Brain and Motivation Study of the brain and motivation started with Ivan Petrovich Pavlov, the Russian physiologist, psychologist, and physician, studied how dogs salivated when shown food they knew to be appetizing (Pavlov, I.P. 1927). First he fed the dogs to ensure that they had the taste of the dog food in their throat. So that when they smell the food in the air their brains will motivate the rest of the body that is a good smell. So now the dogs are motivated to taste the food so they salivate until they get the food. Pavlov went onto study children from there. He...
Words: 1151 - Pages: 5
...Motivation and the Brain Motivation and the Brain Scientists and psychologists alike have been exploring the relationship between addiction and the brain for decades. The motivations behind the core root causes of addiction and how it affects the brain have been speculated over and theorized about. Refraining from drugs can be very difficult for a person to do when they are an addict. Drugs have a way of taking over a person’s life and destroying all of their relationships around them. People start using drugs for different reasons. Some people start using drugs for fun, some use to mask the feelings they are feeling, and some use for pain. This paper is going to discuss the brain structure and functions, the impact of intrinsic factors, and the extrinsic factors, which will include hereditary and the environment. Brain Structure and Functions The brain is the most delicate organ of the body. Drugs release dopamine to the brain. “Dopamine is a monoamine neurotransmitter formed in the brain from the amino acid tyrosine. Dopamine is essential for the healthy functioning of the central nervous system; it has effects on emotion, perception and movement.”(Purse, 2009) This gives a person a feeling of pleasure. The brain makes less dopamine when people continue to use drugs. With this, when people stop using drugs the dopamine is low and your brain has a hard time with pleasure. The ways that drugs motivate the brain are two-fold, chemical and psychological. There...
Words: 1163 - Pages: 5
...Motivation and the Brain: Refraining From Drug Use University of Phoenix PSYCH/355 October 15, 2012 Motivation and the Brain: Refraining From Drug Use Drug addiction within society today has become a big problem. To combat this growing epidemic, research is constantly being done to determine why these behaviors occur and how to refrain from the urge to use psychoactive drugs. Why people do it can be answered simply, because they like the way that psychoactive drugs make them feel. A psychoactive drug is any chemical substance that by affecting the function of the brain alters a person’s behavior and mood (Deckers, 2010). Psychoactive drugs can be anything from caffeine that is obtained by drinking a soda to opiates which are what is in morphine and heroin. In order to refrain from the use of psychoactive drugs, an understanding must be gained about why addictions to these chemicals occur in the first place. Brain Structures and Functions Associated with Refraining From Drug Use In order to understand how to refrain from drug use, it is important to first understand why it occurs. Different psychoactive drugs affect the brain and the body in their own specific ways. While some drugs stimulate the central nervous system, such as cocaine and caffeine, causing a more alert and energized feeling, others work as a depressant such as alcohol, which induces relaxation and can lower social inhibitions and stress levels (Deckers, 2010). Despite the fact that many drugs have...
Words: 1165 - Pages: 5
...Motivation and the Brain PSY/355 September 9, 2013 University of Phoenix Motivation and the Brain Motivation is involved in every area of a person’s life. When a person eats healthy, exercises, quits smoking, stops drinking, goes to school, goes to work, and many other thing he or she does through the power of motivation. Motivation gives a person a reason to act: the act of giving somebody a reason or incentive to do something. The brain is the where motivation begins. The brain is our control center for the functioning and development of human beings. The driving force in motivation is the brain, it also controls actions needed for him or her to become motivated about something. To stay on an exercise routine requires motivation, but that motivation is sometimes blocked by our internal struggles. The limbic system and hypothalamus has been linked to contributing to motivation of exercising. It also takes intrinsic and extrinsic factors to help a person stay motivated to exercise. The different brain structures as well as intrinsic and extrinsic factors work together to motivate someone to exercise. Increases in motivation can lead to changes in the brain, this involves the limbic system and hypothalamus. These changes extend their influences to other parts of the brain and to the rest of the body through the endocrine system (AKRI Ltd. Applied knowledge research and innovation, 2013). This system uses chemical messengers that can have a measurable affect...
Words: 1196 - Pages: 5
...The Brain and Motivation Motivation to Stop Smoking Christina Cheshire Emeka Wolfe-Norman, Ed.S, LPC PSY/ 355 February 27, 2012 Most drugs, including nicotine, induce a “euphoric” effect in the mind (Lewis, 2009) that can be difficult to “undo.” Smoking for most will be the most difficult thing they will ever do. I know that I have a personal interest in this paper. I am a smoker who is trying to quit. I have been a smoker for over fifteen years and I have come to a point in my life where I know that I must stop and it is a daily struggle but also achieveable. Structures of the Brain and Smoking According to Lewis (2009), “nicotine is known to activate neuronal nicotinic receptors in the mesolimbic dopamine system.” What this means is that nicotine acts as a neural transmitter of sorts, and activates the dopamine system, creating the euphoric or calming effect most often associated with cigarette smoking. Because these receptors become sensitive to nicotine use, a person will become accustomed to the hypersensitive psychomotor activation (Lewis, 2009). The psychomotor activation creates a sense of alertness, boots metabolism,...
Words: 1117 - Pages: 5
...Motivation and the Brain Steph Martinez PSY355 April 21, 2014 Rick Daigenault Motivation and the Brain There are numerous factors that influence the brains functions and structures that are associated with the motive to abstain from using drugs. Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, environmental forces, and heredity involved dynamics. Internal motivation is generally considered to be a longstanding behavior modification, although the results of successful external motivation can be brief. A proposed challenge is suggested by the motivational assessment. Changing a person’s internal beliefs and point of view, along with their inducements and external forces are a way to transform his or her behavior. While biological and environmental factors contribute to wanting to abstain from drug use, the functions as well as the structures of the brain that are associated with motivation, take part in a huge role in the person’s ability to do so; thus, a multidimensional approach should be taken when regarding to the brains function and structure. There has been a new understanding of the brains structure and the functions that support the continued drug use in the people that want to abstain from drug use. Imaging studies have shown the role of dopamine in addiction. The studies prove that dopamine has a reinforcing effect in the forebrain. The studies also show that dopamine also affects around and in front of the thalamus in both cerebral hemispheres. The afferent part of the basal...
Words: 1059 - Pages: 5
...Motivation and the Brain Paper Due: April 29, 2013 Psy/355 Motivation and the Brain Paper Certain nutrients have been found in scientific literature to support the structural and functional health of the brain, and the nessessary componets in protecting against brain related diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's (Hall, 2011). Several parts of the brain initiates, and maintains motivation that engages in healthy eating. Some researchers say that evolutionary factors come into play. Factors like reinforcements of endorphins and serotonin activity producing the fullness and well-being feelings after eating (Stone, 2011). If one tries denying these reinforcing experiences, this causes difficulty maintaining a stablized diet. According to Psychological musings, factors such as biological, and enviornmental influences help in the implecation of new, and specific behavior like maintaining a healthy diet (Stone, 2011). To maintain continual motivation in healthy eating there are many brain structures that do contribute. Brain structures that maintain the motivation for healthy eating are the limbic system, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and the amygdala. These structures together form new memories, regulate emotions that maintain positive attitudes about considered diet changes (Stone, 2011). The limbic system is linked with reward, and motivation. This system has a very important role in healthy eating. This allows the...
Words: 902 - Pages: 4
...Motivation and Brain: Healthy Eating PSY/355 University of Phoenix Motivation and Brain: Healthy Eating One could declare that at the core of life’s potential is motivation. Motivation is like a large mass of possibilities hanging in the balance, simply awaiting a push or pull force. That mass of possibility can be directed at a specific target (goal/incentive) such as healthy eating. The desire to succeed and avoid failure helps guide the mass in the needed manner. We must also consider the importance (behind our motivation) of underlying neurological brain structures included in hunger, satiety, intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and the environmental stimuli involved. (Deckers, 2010) For individuals that eat healthy regularly it may not have been an automatic way of eating. It more than likely derived from the learned behavior of healthy eating during childhood rearing or from self-motivation, either push, pull, or both as a source. (Deckers, 2010) Intrinsic & Extrinsic Our parental influences include modeling, opportunity, limitation/rules, and the encouragement of healthy eating. Healthy eating is a result of a drive from within a person. (Wickens, 2005) Intrinsic factors that motivate a person to eat healthy are developed from wanting to avoid healthy issues in our life. Health issues can be extremely debilitating and life altering, such as cancers, diabetes, obesity, death from disease, and heart conditions. The intrinsic factors of experience, loss, gain...
Words: 1121 - Pages: 5
...Motivation and the Brain PSY/355 June 13, 2016 Motivation and the Brain I could have written about any one of the topics given. I have decided to talk about refraining from the use of drugs and I chose this topic because of personal experience. Refraining from drugs is a lifelong battle for people that have addiction problems. I live the experience every day and understand fully how and why I do what I have to do to stay away from drug use. Extrinsic and intrinsic factors have a huge impact on an individual’s motivation to refrain from drug use. The brain also plays a role in the same motivation, certain parts and functions of the brain impact our motivation. Motivation is defined as the reason or reasons an individual has for behaving in a certain way. It is also defined as the desire or willingness an individual has to do something. So the first step from refraining from drug use, at least for me, was to find a motivation strong enough to push me. I woke up one day and said enough was enough. I wanted to be a better person and I was tired of living the “drug life”. Another motivation was my children, I needed to be there for them and they are much more important than any chemical I could put in my body. I also wanted to be healthy again, my body had definitely taken a beating due to my drug usage. The chemicals found in drugs can cause interruptions in how our nerve cells work. The way they process information is impaired. The way that drugs do this is by imitating...
Words: 1121 - Pages: 5
...promised him that I would get my bachelors because that was his dying wish. Everytime I dont feel like working on homework or turning in an essay, I always just think about him and that gives me the motivation because I know he would be so proud of me. He will be looking down from heaven when I graduate. The second reason is for my daughter. I want to provide the best life for my daughter that I can. I plan on in the years to come to get my Ph.D. For right now, Im just focusing on my Bachelors. I had a very good life growing up. I want my daughter to have the same thing. Looking at her gives me motivation to not just sit around and do nothing. Work is another incentive for me because it helps me pay my bills. It provides me with the nice life I have now. Thats pretty much the reason I work anyways. I do it for the paycheck. Incentives describe the things that motivates and encourage individuals to do something that will give them the reward. For example college for me is my incentive would be college because, I want to work hard to complete my course and my reward would be my graduation. School is very important to me because of a few things which are my son and I and family. I’m the first college graduate on my side of things when it comes to my siblings. My son is my motivation to complete this task, regardless of how tired I get at times this journey must get done. My son watches everything that I do and I do not want to be a talker that shows no action. When I say I’m...
Words: 359 - Pages: 2
...of Creativity Neuroscience of Creativity Tarun Vij Woodbury University, Burbank CA. Abstract Human Brain is the most elegant gift evolution has given to life on this planet. Philosophers and scientists alike have always been curious to have an understanding of the intricacies of the human Mind . Creativity of human mind has been the key for our species progress and survival. Neuroscience is rapidly advancing to a stage where researchers can now observe the biology of our brain in detail .Decades worth of research in this field has lead scientists to now begin to map and understand inner workings of the biological circuitry of human brain . This paper presents some of the latest research findings on above. Based on these scientifically validated findings an effort is then made to get some insight into how innovative ideas originate and form businesses of the future and how that impacts our society. Running head: Neuroscience of Creativity Historically speaking creative solutions conceived and executed by human mind has resulted in exponential progress of human condition .From invention of wheel to creation of airplanes , from abacus to machines that can do logical deductions and automate tedious tasks all were a conceptual idea of this complex mass of jelly called our Brain . We can say that we are our brains , our body is just hanging along for the ride . At the dawn of twenty first century rapid progress in technology has...
Words: 2685 - Pages: 11
...Motivation for Refraining from Drugs Cindy Torres Psy/355 Monday, June 4, 2012 Julie Fenyk Motivation for Refraining from Drugs There are several things that influence brain structures and functions associated with the motivation to refrain from the use of drugs. Important factors are intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, heredity and the environment. Motivation can be challenging. In order for a person to change their behavior, an individual’s internal point of view and external forces must be considered. Environmental and biological factors play a role in a person’s desire to refrain from the use of drugs. However, brain structures and functions of the brain related to motivation play a bigger role in the ability to do so. Brain Structures and Functions The Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines addictions as a “compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal; persistence compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful.” The human brain releases chemicals called neurotransmitters when we feel pain or pleasure. For example, a person touches a hot stove and immediately our brain registers the pain and tells us to remove our hand. This is a survival mechanism. Not only does pain cause us to react, but the neurotransmitters released also serve to reinforce this behavior whenever we react by avoiding it (painful stimulus). Our brain forms a neural pathway connecting...
Words: 1479 - Pages: 6
