Clear differences in the approach to work may be related to the activity of dopamine in three specific areas of the brain, reports the Journal of Neuroscience.
The research was carried out using positron emission tomography by scientists from Vanderbilt University, including a professor of psychology, David Zald. There were 25 healthy volunteers in the study group, aged 18 to 29, of which 52% were young. were women.
To determine the willingness of the volunteers to work in return for the reward, the researchers gave them the option to earn money by pressing a button – easily for $ 1, and complicated – for $ 4. This was to help determine who is more willing to work in return for remuneration,
It turned out that in the brains of eager, energetic people, more of the neurotransmitter dopamine was released in the areas related to reward and motivation (the striatum and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex).
On the other hand, in the case of slackers, who are not attracted to hard work in exchange for a reward, the level of dopamine in another part of the brain was high – responsible for emotions and the feeling of risk in the front part of the so-called island. This discovery came as a complete surprise to the researchers.
Earlier studies in rats have shown that dopamine is crucial for motivation. The researchers explain that in humans, dopamine acts in different places and determines individual differences in behavior.
According to specialists, the results of their research may contribute, inter alia, to a better treatment of problems with attention, depression, schizophrenia and other mental disorders related to lower motivation.