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motivation

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·March 23, 2022·5 min read

Motivation to Achieve Goals May Depend on Anxiety Level

The motivation to exert sustained effort to achieve a goal following stress exposure depends on an individual's level of trait anxiety. The expression of CRHR1 in dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area connects anxiety to either boosted or diminished motivation levels.

This shows the cluster of neurons activated by FEzf2

Featured Neuroscience

·December 9, 2021·3 min read

Fine-Tuning Motivation in the Brain

Researchers implicate neurons in the anterior insula cortex as a driving force for motivation in the brain, according to a new mouse study.

Featured Psychology

·December 7, 2021·5 min read

Which Personality Traits Can Be Improved Without Personal Motivation?

Conscientiousness can be improved, even if a person has little motivation to change, researchers report.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·November 16, 2021·4 min read

Cortex Suppression Resolves Motivation Conflict in Favor of Prosociality

Using transcranial magnetic stimulation to suppress excitability in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex enhanced prosocial behaviors.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 28, 2021·4 min read

Dopamine’s Many Roles, Explained

Study reveals dopamine neurons that play a role in learning and memory also drive motivation.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 21, 2021·6 min read

Practice Really Does Make Perfect

The old adage that practice makes perfect may very well be true, according to neuroscientists. Researchers found when a male zebra finch is in the presence of an attractive female and delivers its rehearsed mating call, a noradrenaline release in the basal ganglia shuts down variability in song and makes the call as perfect as it can be.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 20, 2021·2 min read

Health of Older People Is Tied to Motivation

Motivated older people have better outcomes when it comes to general health, researchers say.

This shows neurons in the basolateral amygdala

Featured Neuroscience

·October 18, 2021·3 min read

Mammalian Motivation Circuits: Maybe They’re Born With It

Researchers have identified a pre-programmed neural circuit in the basolateral amygdala of mice that processes both positive and negative stimuli.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 8, 2021·4 min read

Physical Activity Jolts Brain Into Action in the Event of Depression

Exercise has a two-fold effect on those with depression. Physical activity reduces symptoms of depression and increases the brain's ability to change, researchers report.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 6, 2021·5 min read

To Do or Not to Do: Cracking the Code of Motivation

Study highlights the role dopamine receptors play in motivation and decision making.

This shows a man covering his face with his hands

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 28, 2021·4 min read

Motivation Depends on How the Brain Processes Fatigue

People show a decrease in motivation to exert effort or work when feeling fatigued. Motivation can be restored if people are allowed a short rest, however for those with long-term fatigue, motivation does not improve following a short-term period of rest.

This shows a happy little boy with a chalk board

Featured Psychology

·June 29, 2021·3 min read

Just Enough Information Will Motivate Young Children to Learn and Drives Curiosity

Preschool-aged children are more motivated to learn and are more curious about the subject matter if exposed to just a little information, a new study reports. Providing too much information where curiosity to personally investigate is limited causes boredom in young children.