Finding Motivation the Neuroscience Way

Having resolutions and not following through is not because you didn't have the time. It's the Neurochemistry of your Motivation & Reward Systems.

Motivation is 

• A complex process in the brain
• Involves multiple brain regions
• Several Pathways
• Release of Neural Messengers (Neurotransmitters like Dopamine)

Dopamine (DA) is synonymously used with happiness and reward. It helps feel pleasure and relays 'motivational salience'. 

Motivational Salience means DA

1. Indicates positive rewarding stimuli and 
2. Responds to negative non-rewarding stimuli like stress

This means, that both external environment and mood play a role in your drive to act. 

DA is released when we work towards something we think is rewarding - a video game or desire for something tasty. 

DA is released while predicting and craving rewards, not so much while experiencing it. The process : 

1. Release in Planning Network in Pre-frontal Cortex (does most of the thinking)
2. Release in Motivation Generating Network in Striatum

Parts of the striatum read motivational variables & push you to act on them. This can sometimes go awry - depending on the path and timing of this DA release, you may feel motivated to carry on a task like reading a book or you just don’t feel like it.

Reward/Incentive - achievability of a task and the perceived pleasure/reward from it decides your motivation levels. But the aim is to conquer your goals without waiting for that drive. So what else?

• Indulge in Challenges/ Competition: Activity of Glutamine and Glutamate determines motivational stamina (our ability to continue a difficult task)
• Unexpected Rewards: Finding money on your walking path one day, will raise your hopes of finding more.
• Habit: Once you start acting on those goals/tasks, a routine will act as a cue for your motivation.

Ways you can consciously increase and sustain your motivation : 

• Anticipation of Rewards: Visualize a completed task and act towards it, it activates the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC)
• Record your Progress: Track your progress and accomplishments while taking small steps
• Health & Intake: Regular exercise can remodel your entire reward system, allowing increased dopamine release and availability.