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Motivation and the Brain

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I have a task and need help getting started. Write a 1000-1500 word analysis of the brain functions associated with the motivation to engage in exercising.

In the analysis, evaluate the impact of extrinsic and intrinsic factors, including heredity and the environment, on the motivation to engage in exercising.

Please include three sources with at least one from a scholarly peer-reviewed journal.

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Write a 1000-1500 word analysis of the brain functions associated with the motivation to engage in exercising.

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Neurotransmitters are the chemical powerhouse of the brain. They are made from amino acids synthesized from the proteins found in food intake. The two crucial amino acids are tryptophan and tyrosine. Tryptophan helps us feel calm, tyrosine helps us feel alert. Converted into neurotransmitters, they enable the brain's neurons to fire. Different neurotransmitters perform different tasks.

Reference: http://www.intelegant.org/2008/02/05/motivation-neurotransmitters-and-cognitive-strategies-business-intelegant-day-four-of-five/

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is related to the reward and pleasure center of the brain. Due to the pleasure experienced by the release of dopamine, many activities, such as exercising, that enhance the level of dopamine in the brain can become addictive. Exercise is one form of natural dopamine production that has an increasing number of addicts.

According to Deckers, "Like drug use, running or strenuous exercise produces a runner's high or exercise high. This refers to a state of euphoria involving exhilaration, mood improvement, and eventually relaxation" (p. 98). Due to these euphoric feelings, extreme exercise is starting to become a behavior that is occurring more often. Exercise is not look at as a negative behavior so goes under the radar in comparison to negative addictions such as drugs and alcohol. However, it is an addiction that causes a high much like the ones ...

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Sandeep Bardia, MBA
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  • MBA, Rochester Institute of Technology
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