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motivation

·June 6, 2023·7 min read

Dopamine Plays Double Duty in Learning and Motivation

A novel study suggests that dopamine, a neurotransmitter, plays dual roles in learning and motivation. In the study, male rats underwent Pavlovian or operant conditioning while their dopamine release was measured.

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·November 15, 2022·3 min read

How the Nucleus Accumbens Mediates Positive and Negative Motivational Valence

Study reveals the mechanism of the nucleus accumbens for mediating reward and aversion.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·November 7, 2022·5 min read

Motivation Is Affected by Oxidative Stress, but Nutrition Can Help

Higher levels of glutathione in the nucleus accumbens correlated with better and more steady performance in motivation-based tasks. Findings suggest improvements in accumbal anti-oxidant function that can be acquired via diet or supplementation may be a feasible approach to help boost motivation.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 14, 2022·5 min read

Too Much Motivation Affects Our Decision-Making

Motivation influences neural networks associated with perception and impacts our decision-making skills.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 5, 2022·7 min read

Do You Act Before You Think or Think Before You Act?

Even though people engage in seemingly impulsive decision-making, they may actually be predisposed to curtail it.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 18, 2022·7 min read

Cannabis Users No Less Likely to Be Motivated or Able to Enjoy Life’s Pleasure

Cannabis users show no difference in motivation for rewards, pleasure from rewards, or the brain's response to reward-seeking than non-cannabis users.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 1, 2022·9 min read

Cannabis Users No More Likely to Lack Motivation Than Non-users: Study Breaks ‘Stoner’ Stereotype

Users of cannabis showed no difference in motivation, pleasure taken from rewards, or the brain's response to reward-seeking compared to non-cannabis users.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 16, 2022·6 min read

Holocaust Museum Motivates Visitors to Create Social Change

Museums dedicated to remembering the Holocaust and its victims can help to facilitate social mobilization and encourage social change for visitors.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 13, 2022·4 min read

True Grit: Keeping the Faith, or Willingness to Push Yourself, as You Age

Maintaining a growth mindset and belief in yourself as you age helps you succeed at skills you wish to master.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 12, 2022·3 min read

Negative Schizotypal Traits Predict Reward Motivation Reduction in Effort-Reward Imbalance

People who display high schizotypal traits are more likely to perceive effort-reward imbalance. Researchers found a link between effort-reward imbalance and reduced gray matter volume, and altered resting-state functional connectivity in those with schizotypal traits.