Taking a look at the brain and what can effect how it performs and how we can stay motivated. Based on work by Jenni Jepson & Dan Pink.

1. Releasing the
Dopamine
Paul Boocock – Academy Leader

3. Prefrontal Cortex

4. Prefrontal Cortex
• Thinking area of the brain
– Rational thought
– Emotional Control
– Creative, Innovative, Focused, Organised

5. Prefrontal Cortex
Lights up like a Christmas Tree when
performing tasks that require cognitive
and creative thinking
When it’s in the right state…

6. Limbic System

7. Limbic System
• Controls our feelings and emotions
– Emotions we share with other animals
– And the pathways involved with pleasure
• How we’ve survived for so long
– Quickly makes initial decisions to approach
or withdraw from a situation

8. Right State
• Prefrontal Cortex gets tired very quickly
• The Limbic system takes over when
– Too Tired
– Too Hungry
– Too Thirsty
– Too Stressed

9. However!
• The Prefrontal Cortex can regain control
• Get ourselves into an optimal state
– We can work better and for longer
– Need the rational part of our brain so that
we can perform better

10. Sounds Great!
But why should I care?

11. Catecholamines
• Neurotransmitters
– Dopamine (DA) & Norepinephrine (NE)
• Indicate reward in the brain
– Give us the feeling of a power rush
– Help us get to high performance

12. Dopamine
“Inside the brain, dopamine plays
important roles in motor
control, motivation, arousal, cognitive
control, reinforcement, and reward, as
well as basic lower-level functions
including lactation, sexual gratification,
and nausea.”
Wikipedia (en)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine

13. Too much of a good thing
“PFC neurons require a specific amount of DA
to function optimally”
“PFC function is also impaired by excessive
NE release. High levels of NE release, such as
those encountered during a stressful
condition, engage α1-receptors that suppress
PFC cell firing “
Catecholamine Influences on Prefrontal Cortical Function: Relevance to Treatment of
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Related Disorders. 2015. [ONLINE] Available
at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3129015/. [Accessed 15 October 2015].

14. Catecholamines
Support & EncourageNeed a push
A little more pressure
Catecholamine Influences on Prefrontal Cortical Function: Relevance to Treatment of
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Related Disorders. 2015. [ONLINE] Available
at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3129015/. [Accessed 15 October 2015].

15. How to get there
• Certainty in the workplace helps
– Allows us to calm down and focus
• Change causes our PFC to shut down
– Limbic system kicks in, just trying to survive
– Increases stress

16. Neuroplasticity
• Our brains can actually change
– If we stay stressed for too long
– If we become more negative
– The brain can change so you are actually a
more negative person
• But what can go one way…

17. Neuroplasticity
• We can control how our brain rewires
– Frequent Demonstrations
– Feedback & Reflecting positively
• Allows the PFC to open up
– More willing to accept uncertainty
– More able to stay motivated

18. Motivation
• Three key elements to motivation
– Autonomy
– Mastery
– Purpose

19. Motivation

20. Motivation
• Three key elements to motivation
– Autonomy, Mastery & Purpose
– Releases Dopamine & Norepinephrine
– Lights up our Prefrontal Cortex
– Allows us to feel rewarded
– Leaves us more focused and engaged