What is the Role of Brain Function in Motivation?

If there is one course that could cure my insomnia, it’s Physiology. Aside from the fact that I couldn’t grasp the topics, my professor has a voice that could put anyone to sleep. Once he starts talking, my mind drifts off to more interesting things such as clothes, parties and boys. One dreadful morning, the class discussion was about the nervous system, particularly the brain. I was nodding off when my professor mentioned the role of brain function in motivation. I immediately snapped out of my drowsiness and said to myself “Finally! A topic I could relate to!”

Here’s what my professor said about the role of brain function in motivation:

• The neurotransmitter dopamine has an impact on shifting minds through motivation. Motivation that exists through reward systems is the primary concern of dopamine as its release is increased when a reward is expected and is decreased when a reward is withheld. The incentive salience (wanting) hypothesis of dopamine states that when a stimulus worth working for is present in the environment, the brain releases dopamine. This in turn pushes the individual to work harder in order to get the reward.

• Serotonin, a neurotransmitter released by the Raphe nucleus which is located at the base of the brain, has a say in motivation. The axons of the Raphe nucleus extend to the nucleus accumbens, the brain area that is involved in the control of motivation to do certain behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse.

• The definitive locus of motivation is the anterior cingulated gyrus (part of the cortex and limbic system). It is speculated to be the seat of the will as it is located adjacent the motor cortex and is well situated within the frontal cortex and the limbic system.

• Motivation and attention are in the hands of the prefrontal cortex. Damage to the prefrontal cortex causes human behavior to be purposeless, chaotic, and impoverished despite in tact cognitive skills such as reading.

Yes, brain function and motivation do tango! The role of brain function in motivation simply tells us that sometimes physiology can be our destiny.

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