FeaturedNeuroscience·June 6, 2023·7 min readDopamine Plays Double Duty in Learning and MotivationA 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.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·November 15, 2022·3 min readHow the Nucleus Accumbens Mediates Positive and Negative Motivational ValenceStudy reveals the mechanism of the nucleus accumbens for mediating reward and aversion.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·November 7, 2022·5 min readMotivation Is Affected by Oxidative Stress, but Nutrition Can HelpHigher 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.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·October 14, 2022·5 min readToo Much Motivation Affects Our Decision-MakingMotivation influences neural networks associated with perception and impacts our decision-making skills.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·October 5, 2022·7 min readDo 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.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·September 18, 2022·7 min readCannabis Users No Less Likely to Be Motivated or Able to Enjoy Life’s PleasureCannabis users show no difference in motivation for rewards, pleasure from rewards, or the brain's response to reward-seeking than non-cannabis users.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·September 1, 2022·9 min readCannabis Users No More Likely to Lack Motivation Than Non-users: Study Breaks ‘Stoner’ StereotypeUsers of cannabis showed no difference in motivation, pleasure taken from rewards, or the brain's response to reward-seeking compared to non-cannabis users.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·August 16, 2022·6 min readHolocaust Museum Motivates Visitors to Create Social ChangeMuseums dedicated to remembering the Holocaust and its victims can help to facilitate social mobilization and encourage social change for visitors.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·June 13, 2022·4 min readTrue Grit: Keeping the Faith, or Willingness to Push Yourself, as You AgeMaintaining a growth mindset and belief in yourself as you age helps you succeed at skills you wish to master.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·June 12, 2022·3 min readNegative Schizotypal Traits Predict Reward Motivation Reduction in Effort-Reward ImbalancePeople 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.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·June 4, 2022·6 min readHow Storytelling Can Motivate Us to Help OthersHearing personal narratives instead of simply cold, hard facts motivates people to change their behaviors to help protect more vulnerable groups.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·May 11, 2022·3 min readMotivation/Pleasure Deficits, Not Expression Impairments, Contribute to Social Dysfunction in Schizophrenia PatientsAmotivation and anhedonia rather than expressive dysfunction play a critical role in determining social functioning in those with schizophrenia.Read More