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Ramster5678
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Why is the mind motivated to do certain things? What drives you to do an activity or to accomplish something? And can this be what causes boredom?
From:Evolutionarily older brain systems, such as the limbic system, appear to serve fundamental aspects of emotional processing and provide relevant and motivational information for phylogenetically more recent brain systems to regulate complex behaviors. Overall, overt behavior is, in part, determined by the interactions of multiple learning and memory systems, some seemingly complementary and some actually competitive. An understanding of limbic system function in emotion and motivation requires that these subsystems be recognized and characterized as extended components of a distributed limbic network. Behavioral neuroscientists face the challenge of teasing apart the contributions of multiple overlapping neuronal systems in order to begin to elucidate the neural mechanisms of the limbic system and their contributions to behavior. One major consideration is to bring together conceptually the functions of individual components of the limbic forebrain and the related limbic midbrain systems. For example, in the rat the heterogeneous regions of the prefrontal cortex (e.g., prelimbic, anterior cingulate, subgenual cortices and orbito-frontal areas) make distinct contributions to emotional and motivational influences on behavior and each needs consideration in its own right. Major interacting structures of the limbic system include the prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex, amygdaloid nuclear complex, limbic thalamus, hippocampal formation, nucleus accumbens (limbic striatum), anterior hypothalamus, ventral tegmental area and midbrain raphé nuclei; the latter comprising largely serotonergic components of the limbic midbrain system projecting to the forebrain. The posterior limbic midbrain complex comprising the stria medullaris, central gray and dorsal and ventral nuclei of Gudden are also key elements in the limbic midbrain. Some of these formations will be discussed in terms of the neurochemical connectivity between them. We put forward a systems approach in order to build a network model of the limbic forebrain/limbic midbrain system, and the interactions of its major components. In this regard, it is important to keep in mind that the limbic system is both an anatomical entity as well as a physiological concept. We have considered this issue in detail in the introduction to this review. The components of these systems have usually been considered as functional units or ‘centers’ rather than being components of a larger, interacting, and distributed functional system. In that context, we are oriented toward considerations of distributed neural systems themselves as functional entities in the brain.
Abstract
Concepts of motivation are vital to progress in behavioral neuroscience. Motivational concepts help us to understand what limbic brain systems are chiefly evolved to do, i.e., to mediate psychological processes that guide real behavior. This article evaluates some major motivation concepts that have historic importance or have influenced the interpretation of behavioral neuroscience research. These concepts include homeostasis, setpoints and settling points, intervening variables, hydraulic drives, drive reduction, appetitive and consummatory behavior, opponent processes, hedonic reactions, incentive motivation, drive centers, dedicated drive neurons (and drive neuropeptides and receptors), neural hierarchies, and new concepts from affective neuroscience such as allostasis, cognitive incentives, and reward ‘liking’ versus ‘wanting’.
I think it's fascinating they've isolated a specific circuit that kicks in when a person would describe themself as feeling outright "motivated".hypnagogue said:"Human subjects who have had LH stimulation report feeling invigorated and say it feels as if something very interesting and exciting is happening/about to happen. LH has been found to be active when animals are in an exploratory or appetitive phase of behavior (e.g. as in searching for food)..."
Well, I don't think they come out and say that the feel "motivated," but they do apparently say they feel certain things that would tend to lend themselves to feeling or behaving as if motivated (feeling interested/excited/invigorated etc.)zoobyshoe said:I think it's fascinating they've isolated a specific circuit that kicks in when a person would describe themself as feeling outright "motivated".
p.149 said:I would suggest that "intense interest," "engaged curiosity," and "eager anticipation" are the types of feelings that reflect arousal of this system in humans.
Panksepp doesn't state the methods explicitly in the text, but judging by some references he includes in a nearby footnote, I believe the stimulation he refers to was some sort of direct electrical stimulation. The two references arezoobyshoe said:Do you have any info on how they stimulated this specific circuit in people?
Actually, even though things were probably more lax back then, I don't think researchers could get away with doing an invasive brain study purely for their own research. Invasive studies in humans are typically only performed when the brain is exposed anyway for medical reasons, e.g. lesioning a piece of tissue to mitigate epileptic seizures.zoobyshoe said:Those studies are pretty old, and come from a time when neuroscientists were less restricted in what they could try on people
Exactly, and that was my thought about the 1963 study. I can't figure what the springboard for the 1970's study of obese people might have been, though.hypnagogue said:Actually, even though things were probably more lax back then, I don't think researchers could get away with doing an invasive brain study purely for their own research. Invasive studies in humans are typically only performed when the brain is exposed anyway for medical reasons, e.g. lesioning a piece of tissue to mitigate epileptic seizures.
Hmm...I'm curious about that too. If they were being treated for something else and just happened to be obese too, I'd want to know that as it might factor into the interpretation. I wonder if I can get my paws onto a copy of that article (those older ones sometimes take a while to locate...not sure if my library will have that journal as I haven't been here long enough to explore the holdings yet).zoobyshoe said:Exactly, and that was my thought about the 1963 study. I can't figure what the springboard for the 1970's study of obese people might have been, though.
You mentioned my name so I will reply: I have no idea. I've never looked into the neurology of apathy. Mostly I read about seizures. For what it's worth, I can tell you I once read a study in which a patient was described whose depression was linked to a chronic, random spike in his EEG that did not read on the surface, but was picked up when they took another EEG with implanted sphenoidal electrodes, whatever those are. This spiking was considered reason to try anti-convulsants, which the patient claimed cleared his depression up.cotarded said:Does anyone know whether the lateral hypothalamus' dopaminergic interaction with the nucleus accumbens is inhibitory? It was my understanding that the N.A. was GABAergic, so inhibiting portions might have a disinhibiting effect on other parts of the brain - not to suggest that disinhibition == motivation in general, but that selective disinhibition may play a role. Which is a more valid oversimplification of apathy: overinhibition, or understimulation? (i.e. is there a lack of action potential promoting activity in the relevant regions, whether it be due to non-conducive structure or a deficit of stimulating neurotransmitters, or is there an overabundance of antagonistic activity, whether again due to structure or neurotransmitter production/availability?)
There are several factors that can influence the mind's motivation, including biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Biological factors such as hormones and neurotransmitters play a role in regulating motivation. Psychological factors such as beliefs, values, and emotions also impact motivation. Additionally, environmental factors like cultural norms and societal expectations can influence motivation.
Motivation can vary greatly from person to person. While some people may be highly driven and motivated by external rewards or recognition, others may be more intrinsically motivated and driven by personal satisfaction or a sense of purpose. Additionally, individual differences in personality, upbringing, and life experiences can also play a role in shaping motivation.
Yes, motivation can be learned and developed. While some individuals may naturally have a strong drive and motivation, others may need to actively work on developing their motivation. This can be done through setting goals, creating a supportive environment, and finding ways to make tasks more meaningful and enjoyable.
The brain plays a crucial role in regulating motivation. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for setting goals and initiating action, while the limbic system is involved in processing emotions and rewards. The neurotransmitter dopamine also plays a key role in motivation, as it is released when we experience pleasure or anticipate a reward.
Yes, motivation can change over time. It is not a fixed trait and can be influenced by various factors such as life events, experiences, and personal growth. For example, a person's motivation may increase after achieving a goal or decrease after facing multiple setbacks. It is important to regularly reassess and actively work on maintaining and improving motivation.