Brain Structures for Motivation - Essay Example

Motivation and the Brain affiliation The brain is the central coordination engine for the whole body systems, it has various structures and functions that are necessary to initiate and sustain the motivation for healthy eating (Wickens, 2005). Food consumption is mediated by a complex connection of vital body chemicals such as serotonin and endorphins that are markers for pleasure and satiety. These two chemicals combined are essential in determining the level of motivation for the ingestion of food. The brain functions to sustain the equilibrium of serotonin and endorphins activities as a way of promoting positive eating habits. There are a number of intrinsic and extrinsic determinants of motivation in maintaining healthy eating habits. These factors are interconnected and influence the overall motivation pattern of an individual in maintaining a healthy eating habit. Most importantly, the individual’s ability to sustain perpetual motivation for a healthy eating habit determines the health outcome. Several brain parts play an indispensable role in shaping an individual’s ability (Wickens, 2005). Brain Structures for Motivation Sustaining an insatiable motivation for healthy eating partially relies on the functioning of the limbic system that entails; the amygdala and the hippocampus (Stone, 2011). These two structures are involved in maintaining an incontrovertible attitude concerning diet alternations. Although the limbic system is more emotional center, it is also very important in shaping motivation and reward, which are essential elements that maintain positive dietary habits. Studies show that dopamine has direct influence on the hippocampus, such that it improves motivation and creation of new memories about diets and specific eating habits. On the other hand, adequate excitation of the amygdala is crucial in holding and recalling newly learnt habits that concerns healthy eating. For instance, instructions about cooking, the apportioning of ingredients and health effects of certain food are depend on the functioning of amygdala. The amygdala works in conjunction with the prefrontal cortex, which chiefly regulates the capricious behavior and the capacity to come up with reasonable judgments concerning food options. The inability to attain satiety seen by excessive appetite for food is because of pathology in the mesolimbic opioid and dopamine interconnections (Stone, 2011). Excessively high appetite is because of improper hypothalamic functioning caused by disease or injury. The brain receives information via neurotransmitters, integrates it then sends feedback through efferent neurons for action .Dopamine is a neurotransmitter consorted with pleasure and reward systems and therefore, affecting the satisfaction pattern required to maintain healthy eating behavior. Over time, the constraints of eating healthy are the internal and sometimes general demand to eat. Hunger acts as a motivation that fuels people to eat whatever food that is most available. Hypothalamus plays a significant role in regulating the thirst and hunger drive in an individual. For a long time, dopamine, which is an essential neurotransmitter, is associated with motivation of pleasurable human activities such as eating and sex. It is regarded as the control center of all survival activities of humans controlling the intensity and maintaining the urge. It is for this reason that people are motivated towards performing activities that will lead to increased release of dopamine in the body so as to attain pleasure (Stone, 2011). However, a new diet can cause an intermittent withdrawal of dopamine effects of pleasurable sensation. The hypothalamus acts as a biological gauge that regulates the amount and type of food that an individual eats. It also notifies an individual of dietary changes and sets a limit of food intake. Its function is closely connected with that of dopamine and amygdala. (Stone, 2011) Appetite and hunger are two important factors that motivate an individual to eat. When an individual meets these two elements, he or she achieves satisfaction that in most cases is considered a pleasurable experience mediated by dopamine. Genetic Factors that Affect Healthy Eating Genetics influence the internal ability of an individual to initiate and sustain the healthy eating activities. Genetics influences some of the biological sensitivities such as food intolerance, allergies and cultural preferences (Hosking, n.d.). Eating disorders can be an outcome of heredity that significantly impact on the way an individual maintains his or her healthy eating behavior. Factors such as depression, alcoholism and substance abuse are genetically determined and have far-reaching effects on the general healthy eating pattern of an individual. For instance, depression and alcoholism can reduce the level of appetite as well, worsening food intake and retention. These factors lower the intrinsic motivation for food as a result promoting poor nutritional habits. An individual’s ability to choose between most suitable and inappropriate food is engineered in the frontal lobes. This part of the brain controls personality and character, which affect the choice of diet basing on cultural factors (Tholin, Rasmussen, Tynelius, & Karlsson, 2005). Basing on what food is culturally acceptable; the frontal lobe rearranges the ideas to that will incorporate the accepted food and eating habits. Furthermore, the inherent capacity of universal intelligence conditioned by the prefrontal cortex, determines the ability of an individual to adopt brilliant eating and lifestyles for healthy living. In reference to the central nervous system, the difference in genetics influences the way individuals perceive taste, satiety and other factors affecting food ingestion. Prefrontal cortex also affects food related perceptions among others. Additionally, genetics also affect other factors that indirectly determine the eating habits of an individual, such as; the ability to control stress, mood and susceptibility of getting bored. All these factors affect appetite and by extension modifying eating habits, Studies reveal that individuals with high serotonin amounts tend to have reduced appetite for food and are choosier when it comes to food taste. Serotonin has been found to increase the sense of well-being and satisfaction that is normally derived from food (Tholin et al., 2005). On the other hand, low levels of serotonin are associated with depression leading to weight gain, binge eating and dieting. These factors affect the ability to maintain healthy eating. Extrinsic factors that Motivate healthy eating Environmental factors determine the eating habit and food preference of an individual. The availability of food, the social influence and economic factors are key environmental factors that shape health-eating habits. The environment influences the expectations and perceptions of an individual’s ability to maintain healthy eating behavior and healthy food options. (Tholin et al., 2005) Food choice is an extrinsic factor that is known to attribute or isolate an individual from certain eating habits. Isolation can demean the motivation in sustaining healthy options of an individual. Family is an environmental factor that can act as positive reinforcement for healthy eating behavior and lifestyle. An individual is more likely to adopt certain eating behaviors that are family based regardless of them being positive of negative. Friends impart the same effect of dietary choices and eating behaviors. In summary, the hypothalamus, hippocampus and the amygdala are essential organs of the brain that influence motivation for healthy eating. Genetics forms a strong intrinsic motivator for healthy eating while the environment has various extrinsic factors such as family norms and economic conditions that influence the eating habit. References Hosking, K. L. (n.d.). " What is Internal Motivation Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation what is External Motivation. Retrieved from http://www.sciences360.com/index.php/view- article/2264629/ Stone, D. (2011, February 28). Psychological Musings: Brain Structures and Functions Associated with Motivation. Retrieved from http://psychological- musings.blogspot.com/2011/02/brain-structures-and-functions.html Tholin, S., Rasmussen, F., Tynelius, P., & Karlsson, J. (2005). Genetic and environmental influences on eating behavior: the Swedish Young Male Twins Study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 81(3), 564–569. Wickens, A. P. (2005). Foundations of biopsychology. Pearson Education. Read More