Understanding Motivation and the Brain

Questions and Answers

What is the dominant philosophy of American experimental psychology in the first half of the 20th century?

Behaviorism

What is the main force that drives us to act?

Motivation

What is the study of how behaviors are learned and reinforced?

Reinforcement learning

What is the motor loop responsible for?

<p>Controlling our actions</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does the dopamine network play in motivation?

<p>Desiring rewards</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Volition is the conscious decision to act
Habit is a sequence of repeated actions that become automatic
The unconscious mind is the part of our mind that we are largely unaware of
Motivation is the force that drives us to act
Motivation can be explained through the concepts of habit and the law of effect
Motivation is often driven by our unconscious mind
Theories of motivation have evolved over time, with the cognitive revolution in the second half of the 20th century repealing many behaviorist dogmas.
The motivation behind behavior is what gets rewarded, and this is based on the theory of reinforcement learning.
Behaviorism is the dominant philosophy of American experimental psychology in the first half of the 20th century, but it is largely marginalized today.
The motivation behind behavior is based on the theory of reinforcement learning, which is the study of how behaviors are learned and reinforced.
Behaviorism is still powerful in understanding motivation, as the empirical evidence gathered when it held sway has remained powerful.
The brain is made up of neurons that connect to each other with spindly axons and dendrites.
Neurons signal via action potentials, little pulses of electricity.
The frequency of pulses can be sped up or slowed down depending on the strength of response.
Neurons communicate over synapses.
Different networks in the brain use different neurotransmitters.
The neurotransmitter dopamine is important for predicting rewards.
The dopamine network is involved in taking action.
The motor loop helps us to control our actions by preventing other actions from being performed at the same time.
The motor loop is a series of connections between different parts of the brain, including the cortex, basal ganglia, and substantia nigra.
The motor loop is important for movements of the body, but it also exists for signals from different parts of the cortex.
The dopamine network plays a central role in motivation, but it's not just involved in pleasure.
The dopamine network is important for predicting rewards, and it also helps us to desire rewards.