Read Chapter 3 of your textbook.
Summarize the chapter, then answer these questions. What information was most surpising to you? What information was most confusing to you? What information do you want to learn more about? How is your understanding of motivation changed now that you've learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
Provide a list of terms you used at the bottom of your post
What information was most surprising to you?
The most surprising information I found in this chapter was the importance of specific roles certain neurotransmitters have in motivation and emotion. Although I already knew that dopamine was the key neurotransmitter that generates “good feelings” relating to emotions, I did not realize how these other neurotransmitters came into play towards motivation. Serotonin influences our mood and emotions, which play crucial roles in first motivating ourselves to do something. Norepinephrine regulates arousal and alertness, the first thing that draws our attention to certain stimuli and goals. Finally, endorphins counter negative feelings of pain, anxiety and fear by generating good feelings that drive us to take certain actions. When combined, all these transmitters can either increase or decrease motivation.
What information was most confusing to you?
I thought the section describing the different areas of the brain involved in motivation and emotion was slightly confusing. Although I thought the book did a good job in describing the hypothalamus, reticular formation, amygdala, and other parts; I found it hard to distinguish one part from another. The way I understood it, all the functions appear to be the same no matter what part of the brain it is. Both the medial forebrain bundle and the hippocampus experience pleasure, and the anterior cingulate cortex and the orbitofrontal cortex both involve decision making. If I were to being tested on the differences between these brain structures, I would not have the slightest idea on how to answer. Also, I had a difficult time understanding how these different structures are either “approach-oriented” or “avoidance-oriented” and what these terms even mean.
What information do you want to learn more about?
I thought the section describing addictions was interesting. Addictions form when repeated uses of certain substances create hypersensitivity to dopamine stimulation. In turn, this causes a person to find everyday pleasures (e.g. eating) less enjoyable. This section was extremely brief however, and I think it would be exciting to go further into detail about addictions and how they affect motivation in individuals.
How is your understanding of motivation changed now that you’ve learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
After reading this chapter, I can say that I have learned at least two things. The first thing I learned was about the various neurotransmitters and their impacts on motivation and emotion. I can also say that I learned that motivation is not entirely a psychological process. Motivation and emotion involves a lot more physiological processes than I originally had thought.
List of terms: neurotransmitters, dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, endorphins, hypothalamus, reticular formation, amygdale, medial forebrain bundle, hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, approach-oriented, avoidance-oriented, addiction
To briefly summarize the chapter, this section payed particularly close attention to the physiological aspects of motivation and emotion. The functions of the brain, neurotransmitters, and hormones all play equally important roles in influencing a person's behavior. Three principles researchers search to answer help us in defining what it is that physiologically motivates us. These principles include: 1) Specific brain structures generate specific motivations, 2) Biochemical agents stimulate specific brain structures, and 3) Day-to-day events stir biochemical agents into action. After going into extreme detail about all the different parts of the brain, hormones, etc., the chapter ends by giving the reader a final food for thought. When studying motivation, once must understand that motivation cannot be separated from the social context in which it is embedded. Also, we should understand that we are not always consciously aware of the motivational basis of our behavior.
Summary: The motivational (do I want to do this) and emotional (mood while doing it) are just as important as the cognitive and intellectual aspects of the brain. Understanding the specific brain structures (hypothalamus, medial forebrain bundle, orbitofrontal cortex, septal area, nucleus accumbens, anterior cingulate cortex, left prefontal cerebral cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, reticular formation) that generate specific motivations, the biochemical agents that set the process into action, and the day to day events that stir the agents into action help us to realize what motivates us and how.
What information was most surprising to you?
The most surprising information I found in this chapter was the incredible importance of dopamine in the process of generating positive feelings. I thought it was incredible, and very eye-opening that most times the initial incentive triggers dopamine release causing the greatest "positive feeling". Most times the actual experience that the incentive is leading us towards gives us less of a high than the initial incentive like smelling a batch of cookies in the oven.
What information was most confusing to you?
I thought the section at the very beginning of the chapter about the three principles was most confusing. The general process makes sense starting with the environmental event that triggers a human action such as dieting all the way to aroused motivation or the experience of hunger, but the vast amount of biological terms throws me off as an accounting major. I can follow this general process, but it takes much longer to comprehend the biological processes behind it.
What information do you want to learn more about?
I would love to learn more about the amygdala and its process of taking us from a threatening event to reaction. The experiment with the rat that had its amygdala removed and treated the cat as if it was a friend is amazing. When we respond to a threatening event in real time, we rarely think about the incredible amount of processes and functions taking place in our mind. I think it is truly fascinating how such a small part of our brain dominates such important aspects of the brain as a whole. Also, I thought it was interesting that the amygdala sends projections to other parts of the brain without anything in return causing negative emotions. This intrigues me most and gives me hope that I can better control my negative emotions by becoming conscience of this.
I think the main way my understanding of motivation has changed is human control over it. The better we understand the biological processes taking place, the more control we assert in tricking these processes into desired outcomes. Knowing why negative emotions occur gives me hope I can choose more often what kind of response I give in certain situations.
List of terms: dopamine, hypothalamus, medial forebrain bundle, orbitofrontal cortex, septal area, nucleus accumbens, anterior cingulate cortex, left prefontal cerebral cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, reticular formation
Summary: This chapter explains the importance of not only why we do things, but how we are feeling as we are doing them. The brain controls all components of motivation, and the brain structures associated with motivation and emotion include: the hypothalamus, medial forebrain bundle, orbitofrontal cortex, septal area, nucleus accumbens, anterior cingulate cortec, cerebral cortec, left prefrontal cerebral cortex, medial prefrontal cerebral cortex, right prefrontal cerebral cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, and reticular formation. This chapter explains each structure's role as it relates to motivation and emotion.
What was most surprising to you?
The part of this chapter that was most surprising to me was the section discussing that we are not always aware of the motivational basis of our behavior. This was surprising to me because I had not really thought much into this statement before, but after some thought it makes sense. The book gives the example of when people are hungry they eat. Yes, people eat because they are hungry, but the hunger is coming the low amount of leptin in the bloodstream. Most people are not aware of this.
What information was most confusing to you?
The most confusing part of this chapter was the section on each structure. The information was beneficial in helping me understand the role of each structure as it pertains to motivation and emotion, but it was confusing to me how the brain is able to trigger certain areas for certain types of motivation. For example, they hypothalamus is associated with good feelings toward foods, drinks, and mates. It was also confusing to me how some areas appeared to overlap. For example, the medial forebrain bundle is associated with pleasure and reinforcement, but couldn't this also be a role taken on by the hypothalamus? How does the brain know which structure to target?
What information do you want to learn more about?
I would like to learn more about addiction. This topic is relevant to my job, as I am an instructor for smoking cessation classes. I would like to learn more about how people develop addictions and why. Is some addicted to something after their first use, or do they require multiple uses before they become addicted? If it is so easy to pick up an addiction, then why is it so difficult to end it? This topic is intriguing to me, and I would love to learn more about it.
How has my understanding of motivation changed?
After reading this chapter I now know that there is much more that plays into motivation an emotion than simply liking and wanting something. Motivation and emotion are controlled by the brain, and different areas of the brain trigger different behaviors. This information is beneficial in learning why people behave certain ways and what starts and stops specific behaviors.
List of terms: hypothalamus, medial forebrain bundle, orbitofrontal cortex, septal area, nucleus accumbens, anterior cingulate cortec, cerebral cortec, left prefrontal cerebral cortex, medial prefrontal cerebral cortex, right prefrontal cerebral cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, and reticular formation; addiction
Summary:
This chapter looks at how the brain works with motivation and emotion. It shows how dieting is so hard since when you diet, you feel more hungry. It also looks at different parts of the brain and why they are important. It looks at the hypothalamus and how it regulates the body’s reaction to things. The amygdala plays a role in fear and if you feel threatened by something or not. Septo-hippocampus tells you when something isn’t right. Prefrontal cortex plays a role in your response to things. Dopamine tells our body if something’s rewarding. All these parts help determine what you’re feeling at a time and help determine how motivated you will be.
What information was most surprising to you?
It was surprising to me that you are hungrier when you diet. Your hypothalamus realizes your low on ghrelin and you start to feel hungry. When you don’t eat, you get hungry but I didn’t realize that there was so much more to the process and that dieting is really hard considering these factors.
What information was most confusing to you?
I thought it was confusing how all these parts of the brain work together to determine how motivated you are. It seems like there are lots of parts of the brain that do different things and they are all contributing to different emotions.
What information would you like to know more about?
I would like to learn more about how these brain parts work differently for everyone. People feel different emotions with different stimuli and I’d like to learn the reason why people react differently.
Is your understanding of motivation changed now that you've learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
My understanding of motivation is a lot better. I see that motivation is a lot more than I thought it was. It’s a lot more complicated than one thing; it has to do with many parts of your brain. I can see know that there is not a lot of biological components to motivation.
List of Terms: Hypothalamus, amygdala, septo-hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, dopamine, ghrelin
What information was most surprising to you?
The thing that surprised me the most wasn’t really the information that I read but how it was presented in the chapter. For example, the three principles listed in the chapter are used to discover what it is that motivates people. (Specific brain structures generate specific motivations, biochemical agents stimulate specific brain structures and day-to-day events stir biochemical agents into action.) The way that motivation is studied is a little surprising to me. I feel like too much of it is focused on the structure on of the brain instead of what the person is actually thinking.
What information was most confusing to you?
I always feel overwhelmed and confused when subjects are expressed with a scientific structure. When the chapter started talking about the structure of the brain. (Motivational and emotional.) It talked about different ways that we approach things (Hypothalamus, medial forebrain bundle and the orbit of frontal cortex.) and the way we avoid things (Amygdala and Hippocampus). Reading about the exact way the brain works is just plain confusing.
What information would you like to learn more about?
I would like to learn more about the steps that we take when we’re deciding what our motivation is. (Without so much focus on which part of the brain we’re using.)
How has your understanding of motivation changed?
The way that my understanding has changed for me is that I actually think about motivation. It’s one of those things that you don’t really think much about, you just do. Our textbook also talked about the fact that sometimes motivation is impulsive. If you ask a person what motivates them usually they can give you some reasons but sometimes they don’t even think of reasons why they’re motivated they just are.
Terms
Motivation, Emotional Brain, Emotional Brain, Hypothalamus, Medial Forebrain Bundle, Orbit of Frontal Cortex, Amygdala and Hipporcampus.
The brain is important when studying motivation, especially in terms of short-term behaviors. Many chemicals are released from the various structures which signal many new chemicals and provide feelings of motivation or lethargy. Both a lack of sleep or restrictive dieting can cause an excess of Gherlin in one's system. This chemical is released to cause the individual to have a great desire to eat. This is why when dieting, one should make sure they are taking in the proper nutrients and eating the best they can eat, not ceasing to eat.
The actual brain structures can be linked to certain emotions, such as the amygdala and fear. The hippocampus, likewise, regulates anxiety and feelings of being “okay.” But the most remarkable part of the brain is how the various parts work together to complete a task. It is a reliance on all 5 senses and their processing that give these different structures their information to process. Combined with chemical releases, such as dopamine, the whole situation can be very complex but also very enchanting.
The most surprising thing I read, was in the beginning of this chapter. I found that the study about how the Gherlin levels remained significantly higher than even the most they had been previous to dieting was insane. It seemed crazy that even 3 months later, the body was still messed up. But this makes sense too, considering that many people battle various factors when dieting and struggling to lose weight.
I did not find much of this information confusing, because we have touched base on many of these topics in other psychology classes. But I would like to more about what happens when these processes get interrupted. I think it would be interesting to know if the brain compensates or continues with its deficiency. Learning about the biological factors, helps to understand that some behaviors have underlying causes away from the family and the household.
Motivation. Behaviors. Gherlin. Structures. Amygdala. Hippocampus. Dopamine.
When thinking about motivation and emotion, I think about the intellectual and cognitive aspects of it, not really biological/physiological aspects. Many brain structures function to related motivational and emotional areas and neurotransmitters are the messengers that underlie action and motivation.
Information I found most surprising was that there are different brain-generated structures that are approach-oriented and avoidance-oriented, but I knew there were arousal-oriented structures. There are so many brain structures that it was confusing for me to separate and remember which brain structure correlated with the other. I want to learn more about the amygdala. I found it interesting that the amygdala sends out projections to most parts of the brain but receives few projections back. This explains why the emotion, especially negative emotion, overpowers cognition most of the time. Therefore, rational and reasonable messages are few because they are overpowered by messages of fear and anger. I also found the septo-hippocampal circuit interesting. From memory, it tells whether a present situation is “okay” or “not-okay.” It anticipates arousal and anxiety. Anti-anxiety drugs turn the “it’s not okay” checking mode off so that there is less anxiety and more positive feelings. I did not know that the anterior cingulate cortex was involved in making choices and day-to-day mood. More blood flows through the area when the brain is actively making a choice. The behavioral activation system and behavioral inhibition system are two terms used by personality psychologists to describe how sensitive/insensitive a person is to incentives/threats and the experience of positive/negative emotion.
Now that I’ve learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of motivation, I realize how much control our bodies have over our own selves as an entirety. Hormones and brain structures are overwhelmingly strong. Sometimes it is easy to forget that there are forces in our bodies that are hard to overcome. It’s not so easy to be motivated whenever you want to be.
Terms: Neurotransmitters; approach-oriented structures; avoidance-oriented structures; amygdala; septo-hippocampal; anterior cingulate cortex; behavioral activation system; behavioral inhibition system
Summarize the chapter
In chapter three, the book discusses how the brain is involved in the motivation process. It explains the biological side to motivation that most people are not aware of. Understanding the brain and the different components of the brain is extremely important when understanding the concept of motivation. The brain is very complex and there are multiple structures that play a role such as the hypothalamus, forebrain, amygdala, and reticular formation. The brain is also a major component in emotion.
What information was most surpising to you?
What I found in the chapter that was very surprising to learn about was the hormones that are important to motivation and emotion. There are three hormones in particular that are integral to motivation. Cortisol is knows as the ‘stress hormone’. When a person becomes stressed this hormone is secreted from the adrenal gland. Cortisol activation is most likely in face of social-evaluative threats. An example of this would be an audience during a performance. The second hormone is testosterone. This is the steroid hormone that is associated with high sexual motivation. This is the investment of time and energy put into same sex competition and mate seeking behavior. This hormone encourages competition more generally. An example of this would be a Wall Street Stockbroker with higher testosterone levels makes more money. oxytocin is known as the bonding hormone. This is also referred to the ‘tend and befriend response’ This is why people confide in friends during the stressful events in our lives. This is a particular important base for motivation for women.
What information was most confusing to you?
Some information about the brain in this chapter was the most confusing to me. I usually really enjoy learning and understanding the different components about the brain, but this section was a little different. The Approach – oriented structures was the section that I struggled with the most.
What information do you want to learn more about?
The information that I would be interested in learning more about would be the brain and its different approaches. I didn’t fully understand the text, and because I am interested in learning about the brain I would like to learn more. I would also like to learn more about the three principles of motivation. I thought the three areas of activity leading to the general principles were also interesting. The Specific Brain structures, Biochemical Agents, and Day to day event that stir the Biochemical agents into action.
How is your understanding of motivation changed now that you've learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
Now that I have more understanding of motivation from the biological base, I can realize how much my body is in control. Most people think of motivation as something they can turn on and turn off on its own. My knowledge has changed to understand all of the biological influences that carry out motivation and emotion. Some of these biological factors include specific parts of the brain, neurotransmitters, and specific hormones.
Motivation, hypothalamus, forebrain, amygdala, reticular formation, hormones, Cortisol, testosterone, oxytocin, Biochemical Agents,
This chapter contained a lot of information about the brain and different parts of the brain that contribute to motivation and emotion. The brain generates cravings, appetites, needs, desires, pleasure, and a full range of emotions. There are three principles that organize how motivational researchers study the brain. First, specific brain structures like the hypothalamus and the amygdale generate specific motivational states. Secondly, the biochemical agents like the neurotransmitters and hormones stimulate these brain structures. Thirdly, day-to-day events like receiving a call from a friend or driving through heavy traffic are the events in our lives that stir brain stimulation biochemical agents into action.
If you want to get a better look at the workings of the brain, without actually having to open up a scalp, you would use an fMRI. An fMRI takes a image of the brain and shows which parts are active depending on what you want to look at. There are certain brain structures that are associated with positive feelings and approach motivation and those include the hypothalamus, the medial forebrain bundle, the septal area, the orbitofrontal cortex, the nucleus accumbens, the medial prefrontal cortex, and the left prefrontal cortex. The brain structures associated with negative feelings however include the amygdala, hippocampus, and right prefrontal cortex.
Also in this chapter we learned about neurotransmitters and there are four motivationally relevant neurotransmitter pathways that are dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and endorphin. Dopamine release is a neural mechanism by which motivation is translated into action. Like neurotransmitters, hormones underlie motivation and action, including cortisol, testosterone, and oxytocin.
When asked, what information I found surprising, I thought that it was interesting that there was a hormone called ghrelin that made someone feel hungry, but there was also leptin that releases into the blood to stimulate brain activity that makes you feel full. For example if someone were to have a lot of food and gain weight, the ghrelin falls and the leptin rises. I also found that sleep deprivation tends to increase ghrelin and decrease in leptin which I found more interesting than maybe surprising. I also found the fact that the hypothalamus comprises less than 1% of the total volume of the brain to be surprising as well. For as small as it is, it certainly plays a huge part in the brain. The last thing I found surprising was that the brain has no pain receptors. I guess it really wouldn’t have any pain receptors, but the thought never crossed my mind either so when I read that I thought that was surprising.
As far as information that was confusing to me, there wasn’t a whole lot. I’ve taken biopsychology so I think that helped me understand the reading a lot easier since I have previous seen and used those sometimes difficult words to read and pronounce, however there are some things I would like to learn more about like the medial forebrain bundle. I find it interesting how it is the pleasure center and when used on animals it creates that pleasure and leads them to act as if they have just received positive reinforcement. If researchers can stimulate the medial forebrain bundle at the right time, they can motivate and reinforce the animal to navigate a maze, and that is pretty cool. I also want to learn more about dopamine release; I found it intriguing that dopamine release occurs with the anticipation of reward, which therefore participates in the preparatory phases of motivated behavior. We also often experience more pleasure in thinking about engaging in things like sex or eating cookies than we do than when we are actually engaging in sex or eating cookies. Also if dopamine is released during pleasurable activity, how does our body decide what’s pleasurable and what’s not?
My understanding of motivation has changed after learning about the biological and physiological bases because before learning more about it, I assumed that you decided how much motivation you would have to do something, I never knew or thought about the fact that the brain basically makes the decision for you.
Terms- Septo-hippocampal circuit,Anterior Cingulate Cortex,Nucleus Accumbens,Endorphins,Hypersensitivity,Cortisol,
Testosterone, Oxytocin, Ghrelin, Hypothalamus
Adipose, Leptin, Neurotransmitters, Endocrine system
Receptor sites, Dopamine, Limbic system, Cerebral cortex, Medial forebrain, Orbitofrontal cortex
Reticular formation
Pituitary gland “master gland” , Serotonin
Ventral tegmental area (VTA), Septal area
Hippocampus, Neocortex, Amygdala
Although the brain does control our cognative and intellectual function, it also controls our needs, desires, cravings, and other emotions. Specific brain structures control specific areas and motivational states. It also uses biochemical agents to generate specific emotions and motivational actions. Furthermore, day to day events stir and mix our biochemical in our brains to stimulate things into actions. By using MRI technology, we can use the anatomical map to locate several key locations that are used in motivation and emotion. We also learned in Chapter 3 that neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers throughout the brain. The dopamine pathway is important because its main purpose is to generate positive feelings. This also helps us learn which environments we tend to enjoy and which ones we do not. Hormones are the underlying factor when it comes to motivation and action.
I found the section about the idea that day to day events stir up our biochemical agents in our brains. Of course this seems like a very common though and somewhat of a “no brainer”…no pun intended but when we really think about it, our brain’s chemicals control how we feel on a day to day basis and our environment or people we are around have a big part in it. We tend to like to surround ourselves with people that have the same core values as we do, and therefore we use them as motivators to help to motivate ourselves or eachother to do what we want or what needs to be done.
I thought the sections where they went through ever single section of the brain that has to do with motivation and emotion was a bit overwhelming. It is probably some good information to know, but I feel like they could have just covered everything in one page about this section, I was wondering to myself as I was reading that section of when it was going to be over with. I would like to learn more about dopamine and how it helps with the brain and motivation. The topic of motivation and emotion has gotten a lot more interesting now that the aspect of the brain has been added to it. The brain is a key factor in regulating, generating, and maintaining the motivational and emotional states. It is also interesting to note that we are not always aware of how or when we are being motivated to do something.
TERMS: motivation, emotion, biochemical, neurotransmitters, dopamine,
Summary:This chapter talks about the brain's control and significance in our motivation. It explains the importance on neurotransmitters in motivation and emotion as well as brain structures. The hypothalamus, the amygdala, and the prefrontal cortex are just a few of the important structures associated in motivation and emotion.
Most surprising information:
I didn't find any of the information in this chapter surprising, having had biopsych and anatomy and physiology classes. What did surprise me was how motivation is actually studied and looked at.
Confusing information:
The approach-oriented structures of the brain were a little confusing for me. I think it was more how the information was presented then the basic idea behind it however.
Learn more about:
I would like to learn more about the medial forebrain bundle. The pleasure center interests me a lot especially how it has been studied in animals. The process of dopamine release and how it effects the brain is also very interesting to me. I personally am fascinated by the brain and the human body and the more I learn about it the more intrigued I am.
After reading this chapter I realized that motivation is not just a psychological thing but an actual physiological thing but actual physiological processes. I knew this but this chapter reminded me just how many physiological processes are involved in motivation and emotion.
Terms: motivation, emotion, physiological, medial forebrain, amygdala, approach orientated structures, neurotransmitters, hypothalamus
Summarize the chapter
The basis of motivation and emotion comes down to how the brain works. You cannot have motivation or emotion without the brain. Events trigger agents that stimulate a part of the brain that produces a motivation or emotion. All parts of the brain are inter-connected to make up your bodies reaction to each kind of emotion. Dopamine is a strong neurotransmitter that releases good feelings. It’s one of 4 “motivationally relevant” neurotransmitter pathways. This is what makes addictions so strong because drugs produce hypersensitivity to dopamine stimulation. Although the brain is studied in labs, we must not forget to study it in social context also. The brain is constantly affected by the social context around it and personal motives are not always conscious to us. The three main principles that make up motivational brain research are; brain structures, biochemical agents, and day-to-day events.
What information was most surprising to you?
I find it surprising that ghrelin’s highest peak in a non-dieter is the same point at the lowest amount for the day in a dieter. Is this why most dieters fail?
It is amazing that substances can be injected into a person and makes them feel completely different. There is nothing more terrible than the thought of not having control of your own mind, but researchers use artificial brain stimulants all the time.
I also find it interesting that the brain itself has no pain receptors. I did not know that. I have seen “brain surgery” on TV where the person is awake, but I figured they had to somehow numb the brain to be able to touch it pain free to the patient.
What information was most confusing to you?
I find most confusing how each part of the brain works together as a whole. While reading through the chapter I felt as though I kept reading word after word of words and phrases I had never heard before and didn’t quite understand. It felt like I was reading another language and that actually gave me very little motivation to read in depth, since I didn’t understand what was being said anyway. I feel like each brain function did very similar activities when something happened. Everything seems to stimulate something else.
What information do you want to learn more about?
Understanding the brains function while dieting and how to manipulate one’s own behavior is something I personally find fascinating. Although I am not good at dieting or staying motivated to work out, I do love to read about it and better understand it. What biochemical agents does my brain need to increase likely hood of success and how can I produce it?
How is your understanding of motivation changed now that you've learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
My understanding really hasn’t changed that much to be honest. I understand that our hormones effect how we think and feel. That is always a girl’s first excuse when she is bitchy, hungry, lazy, and emotional. That time of the month is all about hormones and I know firsthand what it’s like to be in a bad mood for no good reason and actually realize in the moment that I have no good reason. I do not question that my brain and hormone activity are the soul to my motivation. I just question still why some struggle more than others with it and how I can learn to overcome it.
Provide a list of terms you used at the bottom of your post
Motivation, emotion, stimulate, ghrelin, Dopamine, neurotransmitter, biochemical agents
Ch 3 Summary: Ch 3 covers the ways in which our brains play into or impact our experiences of having cravings, needs, desires pleasure and emotion.
This includes the ways in which our environment and behaviors can elicit activity from parts of the brain, what those parts of the brain influence and how it gets stimulated (neurotransmitters/hormones). It also includes how researchers obtain information about the brains role in motivation and emotion such as surgeon’s view and fMRI. The chapter also explains that the social environment of an individual has influence on the brain and that not all of the reasons behind why we are motivated or emotional are things that we can consciously be aware of.
What I found most surprising: I found that the information provided on hunger was the most surprising thing in the chapter. Most conventional wisdom or popular opinion would suggest that dieting is necessary if one hopes to have success in losing weight. Not knowing the research on the functioning of hunger and never having heard that popular opinion be challenged it was surprising to learn that not eating when you are won’t just be uncomfortable but also ineffective since your body’s ghrelin levels will rise, resulting in one becoming more hungry.
What I found confusing: After reading the description of the study that utilized the surgical approach I don’t feel I understand very adequately the various methods of using that approach or what particular strengths and limitations there are with it. I also don’t feel I understand in which circumstances it makes the most sense to use and is ethical.
What I want to learn more about: I thought the sections on the influence of hormones and the influence of social environment on what areas of the brain become active were interesting because they have the potential to significantly influence our behavior in ways that aren’t readily apparent. More specifically I’d like to know if social environment can override the influence of oxytocin. For example does being a woman who due to intersectionality of something else, (race, SEC, disability, sexual orientation etc.) and as a result face above average levels of violence in their society (and consequently probably higher levels of cortisol) increase or decrease support seeking behaviors/independence from others?
How my understanding of motivation has changed after reading about its physiological/biological processes: I feel that I have learned that there are many things about emotion that are at times invisible to a person and out of their control.
Terms: nuerotransmitters, hormones, cortisol, oxytocin ghrelin, fMRI, surgical approach, social environment.
When I first approached the assignment to read chapter three I figured it would be a review of the biological parts that I have been over numerous times, I was wrong. The brain is indeed the hub for our cognitive and intellectual functioning, but also plays a role in assisting motivation and emotion. In motivational research they discovered that key brain structures (via fMRI), such as the hypothalamus, help create certain motivational states. Adding biological transmitters, such as hormones, they discovered act as the agents that stimulate these very brain structures that produce the motivational states. Given this we can agree with the text in that day-to-day events, such as winning money or wrecking a car, produce a vast array of different transmitters to fire, in turn causing different brain structures to activate; hence positive stimulation produces pleasure, happiness, or desire whereas negative stimulation produces anger, anxiety, or doubt. The chapter went in depth to biologically show the step-by-step process of how different motivational and emotional states arise via the stimulation of certain areas of the brain and how pre-meditated/unpredictable behavior along the day produce multiple different transmitters; ultimately reflecting how it is our brain is indeed a key agent in our motivational states.
What I found most surprising was the amount of research and feedback that researchers have received via their studies to constitute how important the brains structural features relate to specific neurotransmitters; resulting in a logically consistent mental state. For instance, in the case of the study in which they injected a sample with ghrelin (causes brain stimulation to promote the mental state of hunger) and left the others as normal, they witnessed that those injected as they quoted ‘pigged out,’ whereas the others remained routine. Also I found it astonishing that in brain surgery, doctors do not have to worry about inflicting pain on the patient, because the brain has no pain receptors. Further the section on Dopamine was also fascinating. Its release and incentive to induce the brain to predict a rewarding response is incredible.
What I found most confusing was the explanation of how different areas of the brains reacted differently to the emitted transmitters. I went back and had to re-read the section to clarify and distinguish differences, but once settled it all came ahead and made sense. Given that I have taken numerous psychology classes, one being biopsychology, I found much of this chapter relatively simple to interpret. However its relation to motivation and emotion was something new, but impressive.
Personally, I would like to learn more about how it is we can consciously alter or control the stimulation of certain regions of the brain. I understand that some transmitters are going to biologically take place whether we like it or not, but I am interested to what degree we can use our thoughts and approach to daily life to maybe increase or decrease the amount certain stimulations take place, giving one a full grasp to have continued and heightened emotion and motivation.
My understanding has changed in that I didn’t understand the organizational process that took place in order to output mental responses. Further, I wasn’t aware the brain had such a complex duty in the actual outcome as to how our reaction to given stimuli would be processed. As you have stated in class, I previously thought of motivation as the posters hanging up or the catchphrases used in marketing to be primary roles in how it is we can generate or improve our personal outlook. However, after reading this chapter, I can now respect the brains role in how our motivation is derived, as it does have countless other things to worry about.
Terms: ghrelin, fMRI, dopamine, cognitive, hypothalamus, neurotransmitters, stimulation, mental states, biology
What information was most surprising to you?
It seems as though there was a plethora of information unbeknownst to me previously. Thus, much of it was at least a little surprising to me. If I had to choose one piece of information, however, I would have to choose would be some of the facts on the hypothalamus. I knew it was a very important section in the brain, but it only takes up less than 1% of the volume of the brain! It’s incredible how the “control room” of the brain only takes up that much space.
What information was most confusing to you?
I’ve always had a poor time dealing with the hormones produced by the brain and the brain structures. All of them seem to have long, complex names, and I mix up their functions and locations often. When the textbook mentions how the hormone Ghrelin will eventually lead to the psychological experience of hunger, I will, two days later, completely confuse this hormone with the anatomical neurological section called the medial forebrain. I don’t know how or why I confuse very different things, but to me, they are just terms, and it’s difficult for me to make correct associations. Needless to say, I didn’t do very well in Biopsychology here at UNI.
What information do you want to learn more about?
Dopamine seems to be a very interesting topic within the brain. I already knew dopamine was responsible for many psychological experiences, such as pleasure, addiction, and is the primary result of receiving “reward”. As previously mentioned, I’m not very good with specific brain areas, so I would like to know and remember brain locations associated with dopamine. One thing I did learn about dopamine is that it’s associated with motivated action. It makes sense to me: dopamine generates positive feelings, which motivates people to do actions. Previously, I hadn’t made that connection.
How is your understanding of motivation changed now that you've learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
From this chapter, I believe I have learned a lot more about human motivation. In a previous blog post, I had stated that was interested in the topic of will and free will. This chapter certainly makes strong arguments against the existence of free will in its truest sense. Regardless, I’m definitely still interested in further exploring this topic in its fullest. A lot of this section, as previously mentioned, is difficult for me to grasp. Although it’s a good brush up, I still need to find ways to retain this information, so it can open up new doors for me in future chapters.
Terms that I used:
Ghrelin; hormones; hypothalamus; medial forebrain; dopamine
Summary: This chapter begins by presenting three principles which explain why the brain is so important to motivational and emotional processes. First, several structures in the brain are mentioned as well as their main functions. Some such as the hypothalamus, medial forebrain bundle, and orbitofrontal cortex are responsible for approach behaviors while others such as the amygdala and hippocampus are associated with avoidance behaviors. One of the main roles of the hypothalamus is to regulate the endocrine and autonomic nervous systems. The endocrine system involves the body’s hormones and the autonomic nervous system controls the body’s involuntary responses. The medial forebrain bundle is mainly responsible for positive reinforcement. The orbitofrontal cortex helps in decision making. The amygdala mainly controls emotions of anger and fear. The hippocampus controls the often negative reactions that happen to a person when they are in a situation with an unexpected outcome. The prefrontal cortex is also important for cognition, personality, and decision making. This chapter also discussed the neurotransmitters involved with motivation and emotion such as dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and endorphin. Dopamine was described in depth as mainly being responsible for good feelings. The chapter also discussed hormones and how they affect motivation and emotion. Cortisol, testosterone, and oxytocin are responsible for stress, sex-drive, and bonding respectively. The chapter finished by explaining how society affects the responses of the brain and how humans aren’t always aware of the motives for our actions.
What information was most surprising to you? I was surprised to learn about the hormones in the body and how different amounts in men and women can account for differences between the sexes.
What information was most confusing to you? The most confusing thing about this chapter was just the amount of new and confusing words. One in particular I attempted and failed to pronounce was norepinephrine.
What information do you want to learn more about? I like learning about the brain and how certain areas are stimulated by certain events so learning more about the brain would be interesting for me.
How is your understanding of motivation changed now that you've learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it? I now see how incredibly important the brain is to motivation and emotion. There is a lot more science involved than I previously thought.
Terms: Hypothalamus, medial forebrain bundle, orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, approach-oriented behaviors, avoidance-oriented behaviors, endocrine system, autonomic nervous system, dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, endorphin, cortisol, testosterone, oxytocin
Summary
This chapter opens the world of biology and physiology up to motivation and emotion. An understanding of the anatomical features of the brain may assist in identifying motives and emotions. For instance, the hypothalamus and amygdala are two anatomical features which are directly related to emotions and motivation. These anatomical features are further understood through processing of neurotransmitters and hormones. Both of these are communication catalysts of the brain. These catalysts may be visualized through use of an fMRI, where we are able to view the functional portions of the brain through increased blood flow.
Surprised?
I do not recall anything which surprised me from this chapter. As I am a biology and psychology major, much of this has been hammered into my brain. I am currently conducting research on the various roles hormones play in our physiology, so it was nice to read about that in this chapter. This chapter gives a nice synopsis of biology’s role in motivation and emotion. I was, however, pleased to read about the dopamine release/reward system in a motivation light. Instead of reading about how the rat “learned” the behavior to press the button, the rat was “motivated” to keep pressing the button. Throughout my four years of bio and psych, I have never thought of this system as a motivational product.
Confused?
I am confused to why the text only brings up chemical neurotransmitters and does not discuss ionotropic neurotransmitters. The statement under neurotransmitter in the book only says they are chemical, although they are both electrical and chemical. There was also nothing about glial cells which are imperative for neuronal interaction.
Learn more?
I would like to learn more about this liking versus wanting behavior. From what I read, why would someone receive partial reward without sensory pleasure?
How does your understanding change?
I never thought of this class in terms of biology and physiology, but it makes perfect sense. When a traumatic event occurs, the chemistry of the brain is forever changed. An influx of a specific neurotransmitter may lead to a reuptake in a ganglion. In turn, the threshold for this neurotransmitter would increase, changing the person’s emotional state and motivational value. When addicts “shoot up” they typically do so on a routine schedule. So if the addict is placed in the same chair, in the same room, at the same time they normal shoot up and they are give a needle with nothing in it, they will still receive a high from their surroundings. The anticipation of the action is enough to release dopamine and feel pleasure.
Terms: hypothalamus, amygdala, neurotransmitters, hormones, fMRI, motivation and emotion, dopamine release/reward system, chemical neurotransmitters, ionotropic neurotransmitters, glial cells, liking versus wanting behavior, dopamine.
I was not looking forward to reading this chapter. I really do not enjoy reading about the brain and all of its processes. The chapter was ok and there were some things that I found interesting.
The information I found most suprising was also what I found to be most interesting. I always knew that the surgeon needs the patient to be awake during a brain surgery, but it was interesting to read why exactly that is. The person needs to be awake to the surgeon can coordinate site stimulations. When they first touch you, you will flinch but not be aware of what is happening. I also found it interesting that, even though the hypothalamus only makes up 1% of the brain, it is very vital to motivation and different emotions. Each part of the hypothalums is responsible for a different source of motivation.
Dopamine is very essential in talking about motivation and the brain. When dopamine is released, it generates "good feelings." Two different types were discussed in the chapter. Incentives are stimuli that foreshadow the delivery of rewards. The example given was that of baking cookies. The incentive was the fact that you are anticipating a reward, which releases dopamine. The reward would therefore be eating the cookies.
The one thing that I found confusing was the section on the septo-hippocampal circuit. I have never heard of some of the terms, so I think that is why I didn't understand it all. This part of the brain is important to emotions associated with upcoming events, whether they are pleasurable or stressful. No matter how much I re-read this chapter, I still find all of the different brain regions. I have taken biopsych, but still have trouble understanding which region is associated with which process. It is interesting to think that such an easy emotion such as hunger has to many different processes going on inside the brain.
Reading this chapter really did not help my understanding of motivation and emotion. I knew that all of the regions of the brain were associated in some way with motivation, but I found it to be very overwhelming with all of the terms.
One thing I would like to learn more about, however, is the orbitofrontal cortex. There was not much discussion about this topic, but I did find it interesting. This region focuses on which choice we make when we have different options, such as which shampoo to buy. This region of the brain will light up when a person looks at something and remembers that it is good and is motivated to buy it again.
Terms: motivation, hypothalamus, dopamine, incentives, reward, septo-hippocampal circuit,
Summary
The main focus of this chapter was the biological perspective of motivation separate from free will and higher thinking. The chapter essentially breaks down the chemical process in the brain as we process motivation and desires. The brain generates the motivational state, send chemicals that stimulate the brain structures, and then stuff that happens to us triggers those biochemicals. The chapter is attempting to illustrate the process by which we are motivated biologically.
Surprising Information
I was surprised that different parts of the brain are involved with positive versus negative emotions. I was not aware that the hypothalamus, medial forebrain bundle, septal area, orbitofrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, medial prefrontal cortex, and left prefrontal cortex were associated with positive information. While the amygdala, hippocampus and right prefrontal cortex were associated with negative motivation. As a marketing major primarily, I often struggle with the biological side of psychology and have found that I have little motivation to understand the brain and all its workings but it’s interesting that a gray blog of matter can be so segmented, as the brain is.
Confusing Information
What I found to be confusing in this chapter is that they talked about social context but what about human desire to achieve a goal? When I think of motivation, I think of, I want-I can-I will, etc. This chapter made it sound as if motivation is more. Event-Biological Response-Brain receives and processes information. How does human willpower and desire come into play during that process?
Information to learn more about
I’d really like to learn more about approach versus avoidance. As a marketing major, this type of engagement is really interesting me. In my field, it’s really important to understand how to entice and engage your target audience and how to keep them from wanting to avoid your message or product.
How has my understanding changed
My understanding has primarily changed because of what I found to be confusing, which was the concept of motivation as primarily a biological force rather than something is more or less controlled by “higher human understanding”. I think now that I’ve learned and processed this new information, I will probably think about the importance of biology and instinctual response and how it can help to motivate people towards a specific action.
Terms
hypothalamus, medial forebrain bundle, septal area, orbitofrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, medial prefrontal cortex, left prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, right prefrontal cortex, brain, biology, approach, avoidance, social context, motivational state, biochemical
Summary:
Most people don’t think about the complex processes that go along with motivation and emotion, and chapter three explains the biological components of those processes. To understand the motivational processes of the brain, there are three principles that researchers look at. Those principles are that different structures of the brain generate specific motivational states, brain structures are stimulated by biochemical agents such as neurotransmitters, and the last principle is that simple everyday events cause these biochemical agents to be stimulated. This chapter also went into detail about the specific parts of the brain and how different areas play a role in motivation and emotion.
What information was most surprising to you?
I was surprised to read the facts about dieting, and how when you diet, you actually get hungrier. I didn’t realize that hunger was caused by a release of a hormone, ghrelin, into the bloodstream. It makes sense, though, that when you diet and don’t properly feed your body with nutrients, the body will release more ghrelin, causing you to experience more and more hunger. I had never really thought about it like this and didn’t know the biological processes of dieting.
What information was most confusing to you?
Reading about all of the specific areas of the brain and their functions seemed a bit confusing and overwhelming to me, if anything. I found it difficult to try and understand how all of these parts of the brain worked together and played a role in motivation and emotion. They all have many different parts and many different functions, and it got confusing to remember the importance of the ones I wasn’t already familiar with.
What information do you want to learn more about?
I would like to learn more about dopamine and its role in the motivation processes, because I found this very interesting. I like learning about how dopamine is related to the events in our environment that are rewarding, or not rewarding.
How is your understanding of motivation changed now that you’ve learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
I think the biggest way in which my thoughts about motivation have changed has to do with the amount of biological processes that go into everything we do. Our brain is involved in literally every single movement or thing that we do, and it is amazing how much our brain is in control of what we do.
Terms: Motivation, emotion, biological, biochemical, neurotransmitters, hormone, dopamine.
Summarize the chapter, then answer these questions.
There are multiple brain structures that each have a specific purpose in motivation. These brain structures are also linked to chemicals and hormones which direct and affect behavior. When the brain structures are stimulated, they create a specific motivational state. Researchers study the brain structures, motivational states, and the chemicals or hormones behind the states, all in search of reasons and sources of why people do the things they do. Brain structures include the hypothalamus, the medial forebrain, the Orbitalfrontal Cortex, and many others. The motivational states are the reactions such as feeling hungry, positive affect, or others. The chemicals and hormones involve Dopamine, Testosterone, Cortisol, Oxytocin, and others. The chapter also concludes with two points about motivation: that motivation is connected and cannot be separated from the social context, and that motivation is sometimes subconscious.
What information was most surpising to you?
The information that was most surprising was the information about the Prefrontal Cortex and Affect. It was very interesting to me that a person can have a personality sway either towards negative and avoidance feelings, or towards positive and approach oriented feelings. I just thought it was cool that no matter what the circumstances or outside factors, people already have natural feelings and motivations just based on which side of their brain is more active, either the left or right prefrontal cortex!
What information was most confusing to you? What information do you want to learn more about?
I understood what each part of the brain functioned as while I was reading, but I am confused on how they all interconnect. I don't understand the addition of neurotransmitters and pathways, or how one part of the brain triggers another and the sequence follows until motivation and action occur. I would definitely like to learn more about how they are all interconnected and how they work together. I would also like to learn more practical, real life, examples about how the brain affects our choices and motivations, like the example the book gave about how and why we experience feelings of hunger. I found that very interesting and helpful to understand the Hypothalamus and Ghrelin.
How is your understanding of motivation changed now that you've learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
My understanding has changed in that I had no clue how complex the motivation base was. I am not very good at understanding the biological explanation or what each thing in the brain does, but it was interesting to read the examples. I tried to understand it fully, but I will admit that I am not getting it completely.
Terms: Brain structures. Motivational states. Hypothalamus. Medial Forebrain. Orbitalfrontal Cortex. Dopamine. Cortisol. Oxytocin. Prefrontal Cortex. Ghrelin.
Summary:
Chapter three, “Motivated and Emotional Brain”, explains how the brain is not just a “thinking” brain. The brain carries out cognitive and intellectual functions, such as learning, decision making, thinking, remembering, and problem solving, but it’s also responsible for the center of motivation and emotion.
To completely understanding the motivated and emotional brain there are three principles. Specific brain structures generate specific motivations is the first principle. An example of the first principle would be stimulating one part of the hypothalamus increases, while stimulating another part increases gratification. The second principle is biochemical agents stimulate specific brain structures. Brain structures have receptor sites on them that endow them with the potential to be stimulated. The biochemical agents that stimulate these receptor sites are neurotransmitters and hormones. Therefore, to understand the rise and fall of motivational states, we need to look at how neurotransmitters and hormones stimulate and suppress specific brain sites. The last principle is the day-to-day events stir biochemical agents into action. The motivated and emotional brain is stimulated into action by day-to-day events such as home, school, workplace, and athletic field.
The key motivational and emotional roles played by the hypothalamus, media forebrain bundle, orbitofrontal cortex (three approach-oriented structures), amygdala and hippocampus (two avoidance-oriented structures), the prefrontal cerebral cortex, and the reticular formation (arousal-associated structure). To sum it all up it, the chapter informs the reader that what the brain does to generate and maintain motivational and emotional states. Your brain is a complex organ that has many different functions. There are a lot different factors that make a person “do what they do.”
What information was most surprising to you?
I found the table 3.1 in our book most surprising in my opinion. The table title” Motivational and Emotional States Associated with Specific Brain Structures was a great information. The thing that surprised me was that scientists have figured out so much information about the brain. The table has two separate categories, the “brain structures” are on the left side and “associated motivational or emotional on the right side. For instance, the hypothalamus (brain structure) is associated with pleasurable feelings related to feeding, drinking, and mating. The amygdala (brain structure) is associated with detecting and responding to threat and danger.
What information was most confusing to you?
The section on “liking and wanting” was the most confusing part for me. In the text it states, wanting is a motivational state that occurs prior to receiving a reward, while liking is a motivational state that occurs after the reward receipt. I think that is a little confusing because I like lots of things were there is no reward involve.
What information do you want to learn more about?
The topics about dopamine were very intriguing and I felt were beneficial to study. If I had to choose something to highlight in the section that would be “dopamine release not only signals the view of forthcoming reward, dopamine release also teaches us which events in the environment are rewarding. The dopamine release generates good feelings. I like feeling good so I would enjoy learn more about the dopamine in general.
How is your understanding of motivation changed now that you've learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
The information I’ve absorbed from reading this chapter helped me understand peoples motivational bases. All motivational and emotional states involve brain participation. After reading chapter three, I realize the biochemical agents throughout the body and central nervous system are correlated to with our motivational and emotional states.
List of terms:
Specific brain structures generate specific motivations, biochemical agents stimulate specific brain structures, day-to-day events stir biochemical agents into action, neurotransmitters, media forebrain bundle, orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, the prefrontal cerebral cortex, reticular formation, dopamine.
Summary:
Chapter 3 was an introduction to the brain and its function within motivation and emotion. The author explained the many structures of the limbic system, the major system in the brain for motivation and emotion, although the cerebral cortex is also involved. Each structure of the limbic system has its own function and its own job within the control of motivation and emotion. For example, the amygdala controls response to a threatening external situation. It releases neurotransmitters that effect nearly all of the brain, telling them to act either in a fear response or otherwise. Understanding how these brain structures work and how the biochemical agents affect the brain can lead to an understanding of human motivation.
What information was most confusing to you?
I am a science major, and this subject interests me very much. Because of this, I have studied the brain and its activities before. What confused me the most was when something in the book did not match what I had learned in the past. My hippocampus began releasing neurotransmitters to elicit anxiety when comparing some of these ideas to past memories. One example is the hypothalamus. When I first learned about the hypothalamus, I learned that it is involved in “the four F’s”. That is, fight, flight, food, and of course, fornication. The book initially talked much about the hypothalamus’s involvement in hunger and thirst, and even mentioned mating, but it did not mention the fight or flight response until much later in the chapter. Another confusing point for me was the hippocampus. I had learned that this is where memories are made, and the book reads that the hippocampus is just the place where memories are stored and compared to.
What information do you want to learn more about?
All of the brain stuff really interests me, and I would love to learn much more about the way each structure in the brain effects how a person feels, acts, and thinks. I think the research mentioned with stimulating different areas of the brain is incredibly interesting, and I would like to know more about where these experiments are taking science and what we are learning from them outside of the basic structures and their functions.
How is your understanding of motivation changed now that you’ve learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
I do not think my understanding of motivation has changed much at all because I had an understanding of the Limbic system before reading this chapter. I do need to remember, though, that people are not just machines with everything working exactly in the manner which we would expect. It is easy to get lost in all of the neurotransmitters and structures and what they do. The chapter itself did not bring me to this conclusion, but reading and thinking about it did.
Limbic system, cerebral cortex, amygdala, neurotransmitters, hippocampus, hypothalumus
Summary: This chapter looks at the importance of the brain not only in carrying out our intellectual and cognitive functions but as being the center of control of or motivations and emotions. Each aspect of the brain carries out a specific motivational or emotional experience. Also, four neurotransmitters of the brain (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine and endorphin) generate the feelings that we feel such as good feelings, mood, arousal, alertness and negative feelings. This chapter focuses on the motivational and emotional side of the brain.
What was most surprising? The most surprising thing to me in this chapter was looking at the brain on the level of motivation and emotion. Just as the book said, we tend to look at the brain on the cognitive and intellectual side and not necessarily the motivational/emotional side. The information regarding how and why antidepressant drugs alleviate depression(pg 68) was an interesting add-in to the this chapter in explaining how depression works how this medication works to help relieve a person from depression.
What was most confusing? The section on where it talks about the likes and wants in wanting occurs prior to receiving an award and liking occurs after the receipt of the reward.
What do you want to learn more about? As a health major, and an interest, I would like to learn more in regards to drugs (not necessarily prescription) and how it alters the brain and the motivation/emotional responses that you obtain using these drugs. Just as prescription drugs are made to alter or fix something, street drugs also affect the brain, the neurotransmitters and how one may be motivated or feel.
How has my understanding changed? After reading this chapter, I have more knowledge on the brain and how it works with motivation and emotion and the roles it plays. Different brain structures trigger different behaviors and feelings and how knowing how the brain works has assisted in how we are able to look and treat these behaviors.
List of Terms: brain, intellectual functions, cognitive functions, neurotransmitters, dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, endorphin, feelings, mood, arousal, alertness, negative feelings, depression/antidepressant
Summary:
People often consider the brain important because it carries out intellectual and cognitive functions. It also plays vital role in motivation and emotion by generating cravings, needs, desires, pleasures, and other emotions, as well. The cerebral cortex is largely associated with cognitive functions—thinking, planning, and remembering, as well as being intrinsically involved in generating and regulating motivational and emotional states of setting goals and rating activities, etc. The limbic system is the part of the brain that is greatly involved in motivation and emotion. Within the limbic system, it includes the hypothalamus, amygdale, hippocampus, septal, area, ventral tegmental area, and the fibers in which connect these structures.
The Hypothalamus is the portion of the brain that regulates the physiological needs of hunger, thirst, and sex. The Orbitofrontal Cortex is the brain structure that helps people make decisions between a few options. The amygdale processes emotional information. For example, the amygdale is responsible for perceiving others’ emotions, facial expressions, and determining our moods and feelings. The hippocampus compares incoming sensory information with the expected events, due to previous memory. This chapter goes into detail on different parts of the brain and the role it has on influencing motivation and emotion.
There are also neurotransmitters in motivation and emotion, which are dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and endorphin. Dopamine releases a sense of emotionally positivity for creativity and problem solving skills. Serotonin influences mood and emotions, and if not enough is released, it could lead to depression. Arousal and Alertness are regulated by norepinephrine. Endorphin creates good feelings to counteract negative feelings of pain and anxiety.
What information was most surprising to you?
I was surprised to read that surgeons are able brain activity on a computer screen through inserting a tiny camera into either the nostril or through an incision behind the ear. With our advanced technology so many things are open to being explored and in many different ways.
In addition, I was also surprised to read about the differences between wanting and liking. I was unaware, at least at a conscious level, that individuals can want something without liking it. I realize that I have done this before. I do not like eating sweets, of any kind, but every once in awhile, I want ice cream or a rice crispy bar. This is not because I like it, but the fact that I want it instead.
What information was most confusing to you?
It took me awhile to understand what the parts of the brain do in relation to where they are located on the brain since I have not taken the biopsychology course and I have struggled to comprehend information regarding biology. There are so many different parts to the brain and then there is also the neurotransmitters, so it confused me how all of these things work together to function. I was also unsure how a certain part of the brain could take precedence over another in some instances in a person’s life. Each person is unique, and therefore, each individual has different ways of interpreting the signals our brain is sending us regarding the perceived event.
What information do you want to learn more about?
The information I found the most interesting was about the amygdala and how it affects the reaction to potentially fearful objects. I am curious how it is able to stimulate other brain structures through releasing neurotransmitters when a person is frightened. It is a small portion of our brain and yet it is incredibly important. It is responsible for the motivational and emotional occurrences that I am most interested. The amygdala is able to signal many different parts of the brain when a person is frightened, but I am curious why the other portions of the brain do not return information back to the amygdala. The book states from this occurrence, that it begins to explain why negative emotion can overpower cognition.
How is your understanding of motivation changed now that you've learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
I have not taken any psychology classes that focus on biology, so I had very little knowledge on parts of the brain and its functions. Now I have a better understanding of the different processes each part of the brain has control over. Since reading this chapter, I find myself wanting to learn more about the interactions and roles that occur within the human brain, so I can continue to lessen my confusion.
Provide a list of terms you used at the bottom of your post:
Motivation, Emotion, Cerebral Cortex, Limbic System, Hypothalamus, Amygdale, Hippocampus, Septal Area, Ventral Tegmental Area, Orbitofrontal Cortex, Neurotransmitters, Dopamine, Serotonin, Norepinephrine, Endorphin
To briefly summarize chapter three it was about some of the structures in the brain and also some hormones that activate parts of the brain to do certain tasks in our daily lives and how they can influence us to do what we do. Many parts of the brain mentioned in the chapter such as hypothalamus, frontal cortex, amygdala, and so on play the vast majority of how we act everyday with the exception of some internal organs that play some role in motivation through neurotransmitters or other hormones that are excreted through the blood stream. Also much of what was stated in the third chapter was how the parts of the brain went on controlling our motivation with hormones and responses of parts of our body when behavior or emotional states are present such as anger, sadness, hunger, fear and more.
What information was most surprising to you?
Trying to find something that was surprising to me was a very difficult task to do because much of what was mentioned in the text book I have already learned from biology classes about hormones present in the body and parts of the brain, or I also had learned much about parts of the brain and hormones effects on how we act the way we do from the biological psychology course I had previously taken. Though the question is asking what was most surprising, and the best thing I can think of would have to be the introduction section about dieting and how higher levels of ghrelin in the blood stream will cause people to pig out.
What information was most confusing to you?
I would say much of what is mentioned in the chapter always sort of confuses me because there are just so many parts of the body or chemicals present, and just one of these parts acting on the body are able to cause such diverse affects in areas of the brain or body that may or may not be the same reaction in another area.
What information do you want to learn more about?
I always like to learn about how hormones play a role in what we do such as the intro section discussing a test assessing the effects of dieting and the likely hood of hormones increasing a person’s hunger trigger.
How is your understanding of motivation changed now that you've learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
From reading this book my understanding of motivation has really not changed mainly because of what I had mentioned in the question on what surprised me, but when I learned about the brain and hormones in previous classes it helped me greatly to understand why we act the way we do whether it’s was through motivation or behavior and this gave me an idea on some reasons why I act the way I do in certain situations.
Terms: hypothalamus, frontal cortex, amygdala, hormones, emotions, neurotransmitters, motivation, and behavior
The focus of Chapter 3 is the brain, and all the parts that make it the center for motivation and emotion. The different structures of the brain which motivate a person to approach an object or event, and the structures which motivate a person to avoid an object or event are discussed in the chapter. Each of these brain structures are elaborated upon and information provided on how each structure affects and communicates with the rest of the body to produce motivation and emotion. The biochemical agents that communicate messages through the body, neurotransmitters and hormones, are also presented and discussed in detail. The chapter concludes by saying that motivation cannot be studied in a vacuum; it must be studied in the social environment in which it naturally occurs in order to be fully understood. Additionally, a challenge in understanding motivation is that we are not always conscious of why we do what we do.
The information that was most surprising to me was how many different brain structures are involved in so many different motivational and emotional experiences. I suppose before, when I’d never really spent much time thinking about it, I’d just imagined one part of my brain contributed to me feeling either motivated or not motivated for the day. When I first read about the different events that trigger dopamine release I was a little confused about how the release of dopamine triggers good feelings. Previously I believed experiencing an event that makes you feel good triggers dopamine release. I now understand that expectations and if the expectations are exceeded is what triggers dopamine release.
I would like to learn more about a person’s personality traits that are associated with their prefrontal lobe asymmetry. Now that I have learned more about some of the biological/physiological bases of motivation I feel more interested in the science behind motivation and emotion. I have a better understanding of how we are motivated unconsciously and no longer think about motivation as only a cognitive process.
Brain structures, biochemical agents, neurotransmitters, hormones, dopamine release, prefrontal lobe asymmetry, approach/avoid
Summarize the chapter:
Chapter three in the text described the brain and it's role in motivation. It discussed the different parts of the brain that play the most important parts of motivation. With this, it talked about what that part does, what it causes, and why it causes what it causes to happen. It related each part to it's play in motivation and listed examples and research studies on each as well.
What information was most surprising to you?
The most surprising information to me was looking inside the brain at the parts that effect motivation. I have taken anatomy and physiology before so I knew about all these parts in the brain, but I really enjoyed seeing it all from the motivational standpoint. It helped to connect things together and understand the process our brain goes through with different emotions. I also really enjoyed the dopamine and amygdala portions of the reading.
What information was most confusing to you?
For myself, the most confusing information were the Three Principles at the beginning of the chapter. I had to read it a couple times over to help understand it more and more each time. A lot of it was just the wording that confused me but reading it more than once helped.
What information do you want to learn more about?
The information that I would like to learn more about it the hormones. I've always been interested in learning about the different hormones in our bodies that effect different things that we do. The book highlighted three main hormones (cortisol, testosterone, and oxytocin) and their role in motivation and emotion.
How is your understanding of motivation changed now that you've learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
My understanding of motivation hasn't so much of changed because of the reading of the brain but grown. Because of this reading, I'm able to add on to knowledge already known about motivation and use the parts of the brain and motivation to make better sense of things and why we have the emotions we do or act the way we do in different situations.
Provide a list of terms you used at the bottom of your post: brain, motivation, emotions, dopamine, amygdala, hormones, cortisol, testosterone, and oxytocin
Summary: Chapter 3 began to describe how motivation and emotion arises on a physiological level within the brain. It defined the roles that brain structures such as the hypothalamus, medial forebrain, and reticular formation play in giving us the feeling of motivation. When these structures work together they secrete neurotransmitters, most specifically dopamine, and release it into the body. Dopamine is associated with pleasure, goal-directed responses, and also helps to characterize addiction. This neurotransmitter “motivates” us as it generates positivity (or does not) and good feelings from the actions we take in the outside world.
What information was most surprising to you?
The information that most surprised me was learning that both sides of the prefrontal cortex are responsible for experiencing different emotional tones. For example, if a person has a sensitive right lobe, they are more vulnerable to negative emotions. People are biologically wired to be more or less sensitive, depending on the content of their prefrontal cortex! We often talk about the free will to think and do as we want, but the more that I read about biological psychology, more and more of these things seem predetermined.
What information was most confusing to you?
While each brain structure has a specific task to complete, there is much overlap. With only a very basic knowledge of brain anatomy, it is difficult for me to differentiate the objectives that each part of the brain sets out to complete. For example, the amygdala detects and responds to emotionally threatening stimuli. The septo-hippocampal circuit forecasts emotion associated with upcoming events, and then triggers an emotional state when these expectations are met or not met. If the expectations are not met, is that not emotionally threatening stimuli that the amygdala would respond to? The hardest part for me is learning to separate the job that each particular brain structure does from the others, as there are numerous structures that perform multiple important tasks.
What information do you want to learn more about?
I think it would be very interesting to see what happens in the brain when extremely high amounts of a hormone are present in a body. For example, a female with an abnormally high level of testosterone would not only develop physical characteristics in due to the hormone, but would also think and react differently to situations. In effect, this would cause a woman to “think like a man,” and I find that very intriguing.
How is your understanding of motivation changed now that you’ve learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
Previously, I held the belief that motivation came solely from the will and desires of the person. I believed that these desires developed on a purely psychological basis, and that while they could be influenced by chemicals in the brain, they still originated in a person's consciousness. Now I understand that neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and (especially) dopamine play a large role in the energy and direction of all action.
Terms: hypothalamus, medial forebrain, reticular formation, neurotransmitter, dopamine, goal-directed response, addiction, prefrontal cortex, amygdala, septo-hippocampal circuit, hormone, testosterone, serotonin, norepinephrine
This chapter was about how different parts of the brain can affect your moods, which ultimately can change your motivation towards something. There are various types of the brain that affect certain things but there are three main principles of research mentioned in this chapter. Number one, the brain structures generate specific motivational states. Number two, biochemical agents stimulate these brain structures. And number three, everyday events stir these biochemical agents into action!
The thing I found most surprising in this chapter was all of the various brain structures and what effect they have on different emotions. I guess I never quite imagined that there could be so many different processes for each emotion one experiences. The amygdala was particularly interesting because separate parts of it are involved with fear, while another part is associated with anger. It also detects people’s facial expressions and processes that information. I just thought it was extremely intriguing to know what parts of the brain were associated with what emotion.
The thing I thought was most confusing was trying to remember what emotion was associated with what part of the brain. Each part of the brain plays a huge role in motivation and emotion and I would like to know which part is what but it’s really going to be difficult to keep them straight! Quite honestly, reading about how the brain works is confusing in itself.
I would like to know more about the septo-hippocampal circuit. I am really particularly interested in memory and imagination. It measures upcoming events and what you expect them to be compared to how it actually panned out. It gives you a message if things are okay or if they are not okay. These things can either give you anxiety or an expected state of happiness. It was also interesting to know how anti-anxiety drugs work. They actually turn off the “not okay” mode in the brain making one less anxious and more relaxed!
After reading this chapter I realized that motivation and emotion actually require much more physiological processes than I could have ever imagined. I guessed that they brain had some sort of role in motivation and emotions, obviously, but I had absolutely no idea to what extent they are involved! This chapter helped me to explain why some people react the way they do to certain stimuli in the environment.
List of terms: stimuli, septo-hippocampal circuit, amygdala, brain structures, biochemical agents, motivation, emotion, physiological,
Summarize the chapter.
This chapter covered the brain and its involvement in motivation and emotion. Most people think of the brain as just used for thinking and over look all of the other functions. The brain is the “center of motivation and emotion.” The brain does perform tasks, but it also cars about if you want to do it and the mood you are in while doing it. The chapter goes through various structures and how they play a role in motivation and emotion like the hypothalamus, amygdala and many others. It speaks on different neurotransmitters and their functions. The chapter also covered how these neurotransmitters play a role with day to day activities
What information was most surprising and most confusing to you?
The role of dopamine in the brain plays is huge. I thought that serotonin would have been the neurotransmitter to influence motivation more than the others. Dopamine’s function is to create positive feelings. Dopamine plays a role in rewards, addictions, incentives, motivated action and liking versus wanting. I knew dopamine to be significant, but did not credit it as much as I previously should have.
I think the most confusing thing is keeping the functions of the different parts of the brain and the neurotransmitters straight -- knowing what impacts the different factors of motivation and emotion. There seems a lot of terminology to take in with this chapter.
What information do you want to learn more about?
I really would like to look more into the actions of the other neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine and endorphins in relation to motivation and emotion. I felt like I got a lot of good information on dopamine and found it all very fascinating; so I would be intrigued to know how and when those neurotransmitters come into play.
How is your understanding of motivation changed now that you've learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
I’ve taken biopsychology and a course in psychology and drugs (which focused a lot on the brains chemistry). I find the inner workings of the brain fascinating. I have always known that the brain plays a role in motivation and emotion. I’ve been taught the basic functions of the brain and neurotransmitters, but it was nice to go more in-depth with my basic knowledge – learning specifics of how the brain affects motivation and emotion.
Terms used: hypothalamus, amagdala, neurotransmitter(s), serotonin, norepinephrine, endorphins
SUMMARY OF CHAPTER: This chapter focused on the brain and the activities it goes through during motivation and emotion.The chapter goes through various neuron structures and how they play a role in motivation and emotion like the hypothalamus, amygdala and many others. This chapter also discusses different neurotransmitters and their functions they play in everyday activity.
MOST SURPRISING INFORMATION: The most surprising and interesting information I read in this chapter was the discussion of how many things have to go on in the brain in order for us to feel an emotion or "feeling". I thought, as I'm sure many people do, that functions in the brain sort of just "happened", and it was cool to learn about how much actually happens
MOST CONFUSING INFORMATION: There are so many parts of the brain that play so many different roles, that it will be very difficult to differentiate different structures with the different functions, especially because I'm a business major and my anatomy skills are null.
I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT: Dopamine and the affects it has on the body and mind. And how the perpetual introduction of dopamine can affect neurons in the brain.
HOW HAS MY UNDERSTANDING CHANGED: Before reading this chapter I hadn't paid much attention to what all went into having "feelings" and "emotions" but after reading just this chapter, I find myself thinking about all of this without trying. This chapter also supplied me with the knowledge of what causes people to react to things in the ways they do, and what has conditioned their brains to do so.
Terms used: Hypothalamus, amygdala, dopamine, neuron, emotion, neurotransmitters
Summary:
The brain is essential to understanding motivation and emotion, because it is at the heart of all we do, think, and feel. The brain has many individual structures within it that influence motivational states, e.g. the hypothalamus. These structures move into action when stimulated by a biochemical agent such as ghrelin, the hormone that stimulates appetite. Different structures of the brain have different receptors for these agents. The agents themselves are stirred into action by the environment.
Researchers can see how the brain is related to motivational states via surgery or brain imaging techniques. Various structures of the brain are known to be involved in motivation, including structures in the limbic system such as the amygdala, and structures in other parts of the brain such as the reticular formation (located in the brain stem).
Neurotransmitters serve as "messengers," allowing parts of the brain to communicate. They include dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and endorphin (but there are several others).
Finally, motivation cannot be separated from the social context in which it occurs, and it is not something we are always consciously aware of. We may behave a certain way without realizing the reason behind it, either because it is not particularly obvious or because we can't consciously know it (like when a hormone is stimulating or depressing our appetite).
Most surprising: A lot of this information was not new at all to me because it has been presented (albeit in a different context) in classes I've taken before. However, I noticed that I don't always think of physical states when I think of motivation (since motivation can be a buzzword in the business world) and I don't always think about the brain as part of the motivational process even though it's "obvious."
Confusing: Not confusing per se, but I always had trouble remembering all the ins and outs of neuroanatomy. Flash cards have helped in the past, so I'll be making some of those.
Learn more: I wish I had time to take Drugs and Individual Behavior. I'm also interested in the ways researchers have found to "bypass" some motivational states--I read about drug research concerning leptin, but it wasn't as reliable a source as a journal, etc.
Understanding changes:As I mentioned above, this chapter helped me remember that the brain is essential to understanding motivation and emotion, and gave some good details on the process that help me understand that better. As I work on remembering the neuroanatomy discussed in the chapter, I will have a better understanding of how specific structures in the brain affect motivation instead of just where they are and a short description of what they are supposed to do.
Terms: dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, limbic system, amygdala, reticular formation, leptin, ghrelin, hormones, hypothalamus, motivation
Chapter 3 was titled "The Motivated and Emotional brain." The chapter goes into great detail about different structures in the brain and chemical agents that can affect those structures. Motivational researchers have come up with three general principles. The first principle deals with specific brain structures. The principle explains that when each part of the brain is stimulated, different structures give way to specific motivational states. The second principle focuses on biochemical agents, like hormones, and how they affect specific brain structures. The final principle is how the things we do day-in and day-out create active biochemical agents. The section states the four main neurotransmitter pathways as dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and endorphin.
Some information that I found to be surprising was how such slight differences in brain structures can make such a big difference in personality types. For instance, having a sensitive right prefrontal lobe makes you vulnerable to negative emotionality. Whereas,a sensitive left prefrontal lobe makes you vulrnerable to positive emotionality.
One of the sections in the chapter that I found to be confusing was when the author talks of threatening events in relation to the amygdala. I found it hard to understand exactly how the amygdala learns to "fear environmental dangers", if you experience something you never have before.
Information that I would like to know more about would be the use of psychostimulants. I would like to know not only how they are harmful to one's self, but also how they can be used to treat certain types of addictions.
After learning some of the psychological and biological bases of motivation, I now have a better understanding. Everyone is motivated differently, but we all share the same biological functions. You can't help which neurotransmitters are turned on and off, and at what time. From the day each person is born, they already have a blueprint of how they will react emotionally to each type of stimulant present to them. Whether that be positive or negative is completely up to the indidviual.
Terms used: brain structures, biochemical agents, serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, endorphine, neurotransmitter pathways, prefrontal lobe, amygdala, psychostimulants
What information was most surpising to you?
I thought what was really surprising to me was the basic principles of the brain. The brain structures generate specific motives to get the body to do functions needed for the human body. They used the hypothalmus as an example, when you stimulate a certain part of the hypothalmus it stimulates an emotion.
The next principle is that Biochemical agents stimulate specific brain structures. Hormones and neurotransmitters are used to help transmit these chemical agents into the blood stream, which allows them to do their job.
The last principle is Day-to-Day Events to stir biochemical agents into action. They talk about in this section how outside the lab it is very hard to tell what environmental events impact the certain areas of the brain. Day to day events can be a direct guide for how the brain works motivation and emotion.
What information was most confusing to you?
I really dont clearly understand how a surgeon can control the movements of your brain. They use a probe to touch the surface of your cortex, which gives off an electric current. Every time the surgeon gives off an electric current a part of your body moves. I dont understand how an electric current can have that kind of impact?
What information do you want to learn more about?
I want to learn more about how stimulating the brain or providing certain chemicals that stimulate the brain. Like what chemicals stimulate what? And when I have more knowledge on this, how can I apply it to my own life? Would understanding this information help me make better choices to day to day activities?
How is your understanding of motivation changed now that you’ve learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
It is stimulating my mind to think about my day to day life and how much motivation I am really getting when it comes to certain things in my life. Example, when I am doing homework, what is making me motivated to type this document up right now? I mean I have the knowledge that if I dont do it I will get zero for a score. But are there really chemicals in my brain motivating me to type up this document?
List of words used:
chemicals, stimulation, neurotransmitters, hormones, brain, environmental, biochemical agents, hypothalamus, motivation, basic principles of the brain
Summarize the chapter:
Chapter three not only showed us how important brain function is but also how motivation and emotion are also connected to the brain. You begin to understand that the brain not only contributes to cognitive and intellectual function such as thinking, remembering, decision making and more. You also begin to understand that motivation and emotion are also important factors in the brain and how the brain wants to understand you want to something but also how bad you want to do it.
What information was most surprising to you?
I learned a lot during this chapter and found quite a few things interesting. I am interested in learning more about the term Gherlin which releases stimulates to create a hunger. I thought that was very interesting. I also thought looking inside the brain was interesting, learning about all the different techniques that doctors or researchers have for looking at motivation in the brain was fascinating
What information was most confusing to you?
When reading this chapter I got confused more with the scientific talk that was throughout the chapter than what I was actually reading about. I have never liked science and I think that science is confusing and it made some parts throughout the chapter more confusing than I think it needed to be.
What information do you want to learn more about?
I want to learn more about all information because I have become very interested in this topic. I would like to learn more about the three principles based on the brain-based motivational process. I would like to learn more about the brain as well.
How is your understanding of motivation changed now that you've learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
I didn’t realize how important the different neurotransmitters were before I had started to read this chapter. I knew they were important factors for the brain but I didn’t realize how important they were in connection with motivation and emotion
Terms: gherlin, cognitive, motivation, emotion, neurotransmitters
In this chapter, the main topic discussed was the brain and the specific structures that are responsible in motivation and emotion. To understand the process of motivation there are three principles that include which brain parts are associated with motivational states, how these parts become activated, and the understanding of how every day events activate the process. The Hypothalamus, Medial Forebrain Bundle, Orbit frontal Cortex, Amygdala, Septo-hippocampal Circuit, Anterior Cingulated Cortex, Reticular Formation, and Prefrontal Cortex and Affect all have vital functions in producing bodily responses associated with motivation. Within the brain and all these structures, neurotransmitters, specifically, dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and endorphins, communicate with the body to produce positive or negative emotions.
The information that I found most surprising as well as interesting was learning that in the Septo-Hippocampal circuit, the hippocampus is responsible for making sure that events that you expect to happen, happen, and if they don’t then the hippocampus activates the circuit for high attention. Endorphins, which are positive feelings, turn off this activation though. I found this interesting since I am very interested in the benefits of exercising. I was also surprised to learn that so many different structures of the brain are involved in motivation.
When reading about hormones in the body and coming across the paragraph discussing testosterone levels in married and unmarried men, I was confused because I’ve read other articles that have said that marital status doesn’t effect the levels of the hormone in men.
I would like to learn more about the left side and right side of the brain because I don’t know too much about it and have wondered about the differences in people regarding if they are a “left-sided” or “right-sided” minded person.
My understanding of motivation has changed since reading the biological/physiological aspects of it because I am now more informed on how responses and emotions are activated in the body when certain life events occur.
Terms: Hypothalamus, Medial Forebrain Bundle, Orbit Frontal Cortex, Amygdala, Septo-hippocampal Circuit, Anterior Cingulated Cortex, Reticular Formation, Prefrontal Cortex, Neurotransmitters, Dopamine, Serotonin, Norepinephrine, Endorphins, Hippocampus, Testosterone
Summary:
The human brain is the center of all the activities we do. Our actions are a result of the nerve impulses of the brain, while the urges and desires that drive those actions are controlled in the neurotransmitters inside our brains. These neurotransmitters include dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, endorphins, among others. Neurotransmitters are the reason we feel pleasure and stress, they are essential the emotional wiring of our brains. The brain contains other physical systems that affect our day-to-day attitudes, like the amygdala. Any emotions related to the our “fear response” are connected to stimulations of our amygdala. These facts show that our decisions are affected by our motivations, but that our motivations can be subconscious a lot of the time.
Most Surprising:
None of the information presented in the reading was new or shocking to me, but I remain intrigued by the workings of the brain nonetheless. The interaction between the neurotransmitters in especially interesting to me, and the more I learn about their effects, the more surprised I generally become.
Confusing:
Keeping the names and effects of the neurotransmitters straight can be problematic for me. There is a lot to learn about them, and because they are not words I normally see, I usually have to clarify a few vocabulary terms from this section.
Learn More:
I would like to learn more about the anatomy of the brain from a medical perspective. I have taken many classes on the psychological aspects of the brain but I would like to become more familiar with the ins and outs of it.
Understanding Changes:
I now understand more thoroughly how the physical contents of the brain affect the emotions we feel. To further remember these terms I will make note cards denoting each vocabulary term and what they mean. Hopefully I will remember them throughout the semester.
Terms: neurotransmitter, dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, endorphins, amygdala, motivation.
Summary:
Most people think that the brain is only associated with cognitive functions like thinking and learning. However, the brain is much more involved in motivation and emotion. The brain is behind cravings, needs, wants, and every aspect of emotion. The many brain structures have a function that generates specific motivational states. In addition, the neurotransmitters and hormones stimulate these brain structures. Two main points of this chapter were: (1) motivation cannot be separated from the social context in which it is embedded and (2) we are not always consciously aware of the motivational basis or our behavior.
What info. Was most surprising to you?
What I found most surprising was is that the amygdala has a very interesting anatomical relationship with other brain areas. This brain structure sends projections to almost all areas of the brain, and only a small number of projections return information back to the amygdala. This imbalance explains how and why emotion overpowers cognition. I understand now why my emotions usually get the best of me in a certain situation which leads to irrational thought process.
Also, I found that wanting and liking have different brain mechanisms. Wanting is a motivational state that occurs prior to receiving a reward, and liking is a state that occurs after reward. Liking is a hedonic pleasure. Wanting can occur without liking. For instance, sometimes I want a cigarette(especially while drinking) but I do not like cigarettes.
What info. Was most confusing to you?
I considered the last couple of sections the most confusing for me. The parts labeled, “Motivation cannot be separated from the social context in which it is embedded,” and “we are not always consciously aware of the motivational basis of our behavior.” I felt that it wasn’t explained very well. In my opinion, the more technical stuff was easier to understand.
What info. Do you want to learn more about?
I would like to know more about the specific neurotransmitters and how medication affects the growth of them. I want to explore the major brain differences of a stable person and a person that has high anxiety and depression. I would also like to know more about hormones and how they differ from person to person. For instance, I know people with high testosterone and low testosterone, and their personalities differ greatly.
How is understanding of motivation changed now that you’ve learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
It is crazy to think that our body and brain have a lot of control over our motivation and emotion. My understanding of motivation has changed because I used to think I was in total control. However, my brain structures can send messages to other body parts, that make me feel a certain way. For instance, dopamine release generates good feelings. If I were to smell cookies baking in an oven, dopamine would be released in anticipation for the cookies. Hormones can also control what motivates us. Cortisol is the stress hormone. While exposed to a stressor(like public speaking), this hormone is released which is associated with poor intellectual functioning and negative affect.
List of Terms.
Dopamine. Cortisol. Amygdala. Liking. Wanting. Depression.
Summarize the chapter, then answer these questions. What information was most surpising to you? What information was most confusing to you? What information do you want to learn more about? How is your understanding of motivation changed now that you've learned about some of the biological/physiological bases of it?
Provide a list of terms you used at the bottom of your post
For me, the most interesting information as well as the most confusing information was the different duties that the different parts of the brain had in their role of motivation and emotion. It was interesting, because I enjoyed seeing which parts served which functions, and it also sounds cool to say that my will to be a counselor is housed in my prefrontal cortex! Or even that I can blame my anterior cingulate cortex for my day-to-day moods, but holy cow is it an overload of trying to remember all of those words and specific functions! That's why it is also the most confusing part.
I would love to learn more about how the different chemicals specifically affect the different part of the brain. I know that low levels of dopamine can cause clinical depression, and I think that this is important information for me to harbor with my future of being a counselor. The chemical imbalances are important to realize along with the life events and behaviors of the person you are talking with.
My understanding of motivation has changed by being more aware and more accepting of the biological/physiological effects on motivation. Somethings are just natural, and we don't always have control over them. Learning about the natural things and how they work can really help to be aware and even help to make those responses more controlled.
Terms used:
dopamine, anterior cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex
What was the most surprising to you?
I think it is so interesting that there are several chemicals in the brain that can make you feel a certain way. Emotions are not as simple as some people think. I used to think that it was just happy, sad, angry, scared, etc. Now I know that there are factors that play into these emotions and why we feel them. There are biochemical agents and structures in the brain that make us feel certain ways when we are exposed to certain environmental ques. If you see someone who you haven't seen in awhile, and you greatly missed them, you will feel joy. And it's not just something that randomly happens out of the blue, it is something that is triggered in the brain that makes you feel that way when the chemicals are resleased.
What was the most confusing to you?
The most confusing part of chapter 3 for me was all of the different structures and chemicals. There are so many little parts and divisions of the brain, it is hard for me to keep them straight. There are also a lot of different chemicals that the brain releases when you feel certain emotions or feelings. There are multiple feelings and emotions, so it would only make sense to have several different biochemical agents that cause them. This is something that I could eventually get straight, it's just hard for me to recall which part of the brain does what and which biochemical agent does what.
What would you like to learn more about?
I would really like to learn more about the effects of drugs on the brain and brain functions. If the brain is not functioning right, then someone's emotions will not be right. I think it would be interesting to learn a lot more about all the different types of drugs and all the effects they have on the brain. Which structures they effect, which chemicals in the brain they effect, and which emotions will be different.
How has your understanding about motivation changed since learning about the biological/physiological bases of it?
My understanding about motivation has drastically changed since I've learned about the biological and physiological aspects of it. I used to see emotions in a very simplistic way. I thought that it was something that just happened. I had always heard of dopamine and that it causes pleasure, but I never knew the extent of it. I also never knew that there were other chemicals and other biological things that effect someone's emotions. Dopamine releases positive feelings. If someone does somethings that releases dopamine, it will feel rewarding to them. The person who experiences these good feelings, will want to experience them more often. This will cause motivation to continue the actions that release dopamine. It is a much more complex process than I used to think.
Terms:
Emotions, Biochemical agents, Brain, Motivation, Biological, Physiological, Dopamine
This chapter introduced the components of the brain that deal with motivation and emotion. While the brain's function is most notably to do "think" and carry out tasks, it is also responsible for motivating us to act and responsible for how we feel when we act. The parts of the brain associated with positive feelings and approach motivation include the hypothalamus, medial forebrain bundle, septal area, orbitofrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, medial prefrontal cortex, and left prefrontal cortex. On the other hand, the parts of the brain responsible for negative feelings and avoidance motivation include the amygdala, hippocampus, and the right prefrontal cortex. Motivational neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotinin, norepinephrine, and endorphins, are the chemicals that communicate with one another to motivate us to action. Although these biological components are necessary and have a significant impact on our actions, they are only a part of the picture-- social context plays an equally important role in dictating our actions and our motivations toward them.
The most interesting part of the chapter for me was how the book described that the brain cares about our motivation and our emotion-- not just if we get what we need. The brain may say that it needs water, but it cares just as much that we personally *want* to acquire and drink that water. This shows the sophistication of our brain.
Another thing that really interested my was the discussion of the amydala. I thought it was very fascinating that the amygdala is wired to many other parts of the brain, but it receives few messages in return, which is why it is very difficult to calm irrational thoughts even in the face of rational information. Perhaps knowing that this is a weakness we have will help us in times of crises. Sometimes being aware of your shortcomings can help you overcome them. It also makes me wonder how future humans and other creatures will be wired. If increasing sophistication continues with evolution, we should find that the Amygdala receives more feedback .
The most confusing part was the discussion of all the different parts of the brain. There is a lot to memorize and remember, and in such a short amount of time. As discussion in class continues, I'm sure the material will be brought up again and again and the repetition will help me memorize the role the different brain structures play. There is nothing inherently confusing about this; it is just difficult to remember it all.
I am interested in learning more about the left and right prefrontal cortex in association with the Big Five traits. The findings in the book regarding the relationship between neuroticism/extraversion with right/left prefrontal cortex stimulation is fascinating to me. The book only mentioned asymmetrical stimulation, though. I'm interested in learning about people who have a lot of stimulation with both hemispheres and very little stimulation with both hemispheres and their personalities.
Though I am not new to the discussion of the brain in terms of motivation and emotion, being reintroduced to the subject does help put it into perspective. On a daily basis, we don't really think of emotions in terms of neurotransmitters, but emotions would not exist without them. It's just another reminder that there's a scientific reason for even the most "irrational" things.
Terms: hypothalamus, medial forebrain bundle, septal area, orbitofrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, medial prefrontal cortex, left prefrontal cortex, avoidance motivation, amygdala, hippocampus, right prefrontal cortex. Motivational neurotransmitters, dopamine, serotinin, norepinephrine, endorphins, Big Five, Neuroticism, Extraversion, Asymmetrical stimulation.
What information was most surprising to you?
I think the most surprising information from this chapter was really just thinking about motivation in a biological context dealing with certain parts of the brain down to the different types of neurotransmitters.
What information was most confusing to you?
Not much of this section was confusing to me. I have taken Biopsychology and I am now taking drugs and individual behavior. In which both classes have talked about the different parts of the brain (medial forbrain bundle, brains stem) and what each section does along with the different types of neurotransmitters and what they do and how they work. If anything this chapter has really closed the gap on how an individual can become motivated to get a hold of a drug and become dependent on the the drug. Such as Heroine, which stimulates the neurotransmitter dopamine which the brain perceives as a (reward).
What information do you want to learn more about?
I would like to know if other neurotransmitters affects motivation such as serotonin, GABA, or glutamate. I would also like to learn more about hormones effect on motivation, I have had previous research with testosterone's effect on cognition with males and females. I wonder if perhaps motivation is affected differently with hormones as it is with cognition. After reading this chapter I feel more interested in the study of motivation, I also feel that i have a better understanding of how motivation is affected by biological systems.
Terms- biological, GABA, glutamate, neurotransmitter,serotonin, stimulates, hormones, motivation, brain stem, medialforbrain.