Motivation and the Brain Case

Motivation and the Brain

Jennifer Flynn

PSY/355

September 29, 2014

Jeremy Christensen

Motivation and the Brain

According to Deckers (2010), there is several structure of the brain that persuade the start and continuation of the motivation which engages in eating healthy. There is some factors that includes human food consumptions such as satisfying strengthening of serotonin and endorphins activity which produces wisdom of completeness and good fortune after eating a full meal (Placidi et al., 2004). Sometimes there is various difficulties in maintaining changes in the diet that can deny some reinforcing experiences. In the following paper, I will explain the brain structures that is involved in motivation and also some factors that is associated with healthy eating such as intrinsic and extrinsic.

Brain Structures involved in Motivation to Healthy Eating

The limbic system has four major structures that includes the limbic cortex, the amygdala, the hippocampus and the septal area. The limbic system structures are key factors forming new memories and the regulation of emotions that may play a factor in an individual motivation for eating healthier (Wickens, 2005). The limbic system is associated towards the compensation and inspiration, which is also required feature in providing a fresh diet and emotional intelligence of incentive in its triumphs.  According to Adcock et al. (2006), has found that the reward strengthened motivation and can also help new memory formation when the dopamine is released within the hippocampus. In the 1940’s, there was studies that was conducted by Albert Hetherington and Stephen Ranson in which it suggested the role of the hypothalamus in relation to the food intake regulation. Although the studies said that the hypothalamus did indeed play an important role some believed it to be a myth but eventually the lateral hypothalamic area was named as the feeding or hunger centre (Deckers, 2010).

Hormones Associated in the Motivation of Healthy Eating

Leptin and dopamine is two key factors that is related to motivation and eating.   Good eating is critical to control an individual’s hormones because that is where your blood gets its nutrient and also carries substances to promote how much might be eaten.  Hormones play a part in what stimulates the feeling of letting the individual know if they are full or hungry.  “Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a hormone released in the upper part of the small intestine after food intake and is involved in the short-term regulation of food energy” (Decker, 2010, p. 114). According to Udden et al,. (2003), leptin is a hormone found centrally in the hypothalamus and is released by the adipose tissue in the body. This particular hormone is also related to the energy storage from the consumption of food. Dopamine is a hormone that is associated with the regulation of our eating behaviors (Deckers, 2010). The cells from the dopamine can also predict some rewards.

Intrinsic Factors in Motivating Healthy Eating Evolutionary factors

According to Deckers (2010), evolution is an intrinsic factor which is one of the first challenges related to eating healthy and that hunger stimulates the tendency to eat whatever is available or insight. The primary purpose of supplying energy within an individual body to function properly is eating. The evolutionary responds to hunger and thirst regulates within the hypothalamus and can also indicate appetite in reaction to major fluctuations in the diet (Wickens, 2005). The dopamine system constantly controls the motivational aspects in thinking (Deckers, 2010). The evolutionary side of view the dopamine system can perform to encourage amusement for certain activities such as sex, drinking and eating. According to Deckers (2010), some people is motivated by certain behaviors that causes dopamine to be release into the system and the dopamine is pleasurably induced. When going on a revamped eating schedule this could cause different challenges to the system and may have certain feelings of eating momentarily solitary or improved.

Genetic factors

Genetic and cultural factors also play a very important role in an individual ability to eating healthier.  Some of these biological predispositions may include illness, diseases, allergies, and even a predisposition to cultural flavors (Wickens, 2007). For instance, some genetic factors that has a family history of diabetic may also change an individual diet to adapt to certain restraints. According to Deckers (2010), humans are born with innate taste for some particular food over others. Also chaotic eating is a transmissible factor that can exercise influence on preserving a healthier diet and may often be a hereditary factor as well.