Brain and Motivation Paper

Motivation and the Brain

The process by which an individual moves into action is motivation (Deckers, 2010). Motivated behaviors occur from his or her push and pull toward some end-state (Deckers, 2010). An individual’s motivations directly connect to his or her brain. Several structures of the brain and functions are associated with motivation. These same structures of the brain and functions play a role in an individual’s motivation for eating healthy in eating healthy as well as other brain structures. Extrinsic factors, such as social encouragement and positive reinforcement play a role in motivation as related to eating healthy. Intrinsic factors, such as evolutionary, and genetic factors, and the serotonin system play a role in motivation as related to eating healthy.

Structures of the Brain and Functions Associated with Motivation

Within the brain, the limbic system and its four main structures that are the limbic cortex, the amygdala, the hippocampus, and the septal area play a factor in motivation and emotions. The amygdala plays a role in the recognition of emotions, analyzing potential threats, and reaction of emotions, and helps motivate an individual to react accordingly. The hippocampus plays a role in motivation and emotions because it forms new memories, and connects senses and emotions to memories therefore it allows an individual to draw upon experiences of the past to choose the best option that guarantees survival (Cherry, 2013). The hypothalamus, which receives information from the endocrine, neural, and metabolic signals is another brain structure important in its regulation of motivated behaviors. These brain structures and their functions directly contribute to an individual’s motivation.

Brain Structures and Functions Associated with the Motivation for Eating Healthy

An individual’s motivation for eating healthy depends partially on the structures of the limbic system, which include as stated before the amygdala,...