A lot is understood about the brain’s motivational circuitry, also referred to as the "reward" circuit. Like many brain functions, it operates as a circular feedback loop, with bottom-up … See more

People differ greatly in their typical level of motivation, particularly for less stimulating, less immediately rewarding tasks. They differ in how much reward they need in order to ke… See more

Several brain chemicals play key roles in the motivation/reward circuit, particularly dopamine. There is evidence that the dopamine reward system in people who meet criteri… See more

Understanding the brain mechanisms of motivation leads us to the inevitable question of whether or to what degree we have “free will.” From a scientific point of view, there … See more