How Motivation Works In The Brain

Motivation is often perceived as something that exists as a feeling or a thought in our heads. Still, there are actual physical changes in our brain happening, spurring on that motivation to accomplish your task!

The Drive Reduction Theory

Within motivation, there is a theory entitled the drive reduction theory. Before we tackle that, let’s look at a concept called homeostasis. Homeostasis is basically our baseline or our basic level of functioning. After we sprint across the field, it is the heart rate our body returns to, as well as the temperature and the breathing pattern that makes the most sense for our body, for example.

The same can be true when we are unwell. Have you ever stopped to consider why we get chills or fever in our bodies? The chills force your body to move and create more heat, causing a rise in body temperature, which in turn tells your body to produce white blood cells to fight off the virus or infection. We are exhausted and fatigued and stay in bed when we do not feel well. Our motivation is to return to our baseline, our homeostasis of a normal level of virus/infection in our body.

The drive reduction theory states that when there is a physical need in our body, a drive is created to fulfill that need. We do not want to stop until we can fulfill that need and are motivated to follow through, knowing we will return to homeostasis.

So let’s say, for example, that you know that if you complete this large spreadsheet for your boss at work, you will have an immediate reduction in your stress levels, anxiety, and insomnia. You will be motivated to complete that task because a physical need has created a drive to fulfill it.

The same thing is true when someone finishes a 5K race. The runner may be totally out of breath, have zero energy left. Still, when they round the corner and see the finish line up ahead, their brain can harness the motivation to sprint to the finish because their body has the drive to address that need and return to homeostasis with a cold glass of Gatorade.

Everything we experience is simultaneously mental and physical, and motivation is no exception!