Motivation and the Brain
Motivation and the Brain 1
Running Head: Motivation and the Brain
Motivation and the Brain
Allison Finnie
University of Phoenix
Motivation and the Brain 2
Motivation and the Brain
The process of trying to quit smoking is harder than one could ever imagine. This addiction will have you on a terrible emotional roller coaster where you’ll begin to have mixed emotions about what to do. People already smoke cigarettes for totally different reasons, such as loosing weight, relieving stress, and to control unwanted feelings. In the beginning your negative emotions will begin to over power the positive. On one hand your intellect knows that smoking cigarettes is a terrible thing to do to your body and your environment, and you want to quit, but on the other hand the biological brain has been formed to seek gratification and avoid grief. When it comes to trying to quit smoking several brain functions and structures are involved with this process as well as your environment and heredity. This paper will discuss the brain structures and functions that are involved with your behavior and emotions to drive people to smoke and quit smoking. And it will also discuss weather or not smoking is hereditary and how much effect the environment has on an individual who is trying to quit smoking. Dopamine is a hormone and a very important neurotransmitter in the brain that is associated with pleasure and enjoyment. When dopamine is released into the nucleus accumbens dopamine will increase due to the affects from nicotine. Dopamine plays a very major role in addiction because it affects the brain process controlling the ability to experience pleasure. Endorphins are a type of chemical that blocks pain, and instead they produce
Running Head: Motivation and the Brain
Motivation and the Brain
Allison Finnie
University of Phoenix
Motivation and the Brain 2
Motivation and the Brain
The process of trying to quit smoking is harder than one could ever imagine. This addiction will have you on a terrible emotional roller coaster where you’ll begin to have mixed emotions about what to do. People already smoke cigarettes for totally different reasons, such as loosing weight, relieving stress, and to control unwanted feelings. In the beginning your negative emotions will begin to over power the positive. On one hand your intellect knows that smoking cigarettes is a terrible thing to do to your body and your environment, and you want to quit, but on the other hand the biological brain has been formed to seek gratification and avoid grief. When it comes to trying to quit smoking several brain functions and structures are involved with this process as well as your environment and heredity. This paper will discuss the brain structures and functions that are involved with your behavior and emotions to drive people to smoke and quit smoking. And it will also discuss weather or not smoking is hereditary and how much effect the environment has on an individual who is trying to quit smoking. Dopamine is a hormone and a very important neurotransmitter in the brain that is associated with pleasure and enjoyment. When dopamine is released into the nucleus accumbens dopamine will increase due to the affects from nicotine. Dopamine plays a very major role in addiction because it affects the brain process controlling the ability to experience pleasure. Endorphins are a type of chemical that blocks pain, and instead they produce
References: Duke Med News, (2007) Brain Scans Reveals Cause of Smokers’ Cravings. Retrieved December 12, 2007 from http://www.emaxhealth.com/58/10356.html#. Perry B.D., (2007) Brain structure and function II. Retrieved December 12, 2007 from www.childtrauma.org/ctamaterials/brain_II.asp - 64k Zacharia, Suzanne (2006) Smoking and Genetics: Is Smoking Hereditary? Retrieved December 12, 2007 from www.articlealley.com/article_87495_17.html