Research
The motivation muscle: Anterior Mid-Cingulate Cortex
The motivation muscle: Anterior Mid-Cingulate Cortex
What really is motivation? With today’s imaging technologies, motivation is no longer some abstract concept, but a real physical process that goes on in your brain
The Motivation Muscle - How to Build Mental Toughness and Achieve Your Goals
Who's gonna carry the boats?
This clip, now iconic, may seem cliché and overused at this point. You may have heard this quote hundreds of times in podcasts and motivational clips at this point, and it may have gone over your head at this point. Yet, the underlying message remains powerful. Why has David Goggins become this popular, and what really makes him tick? How did this man turn in from a fat slob, and into a man this inspired millions of others?
The Goggins Approach
David Goggins candidly shares his life journey on the Huberman podcast, a conversation that is probably my top 10 favourite episodes. He recounts his struggles, from being obese at 23, dealing with ADD, and feeling intellectually outmatched, to becoming a person that is truely iconic.
“The barbaric life that I live, that you have to live, the almost obsession that you must have to be great, you can’t put that sh*t in a f*cking book, bro.”
Motivation isn’t like a switch that you can flip and become a beast, it’s a constant never-ending struggle against your former self.
motivation is like the story of Sysyphus - it’s a neverending struggle
Every decision is something that you undertake. There’s no “silver bullet”, or a magic pill to swallow to set out goals that you want to do. It comes down to whether you in the moment decide “yes”, or “no”.
You often don’t even need that much more additional information. You don’t need to read more self help books. You don’t need to watch more motivation clips or listen to more podcasts. His central message is that in those split-second decisions of weakness or strength, you have to choose strength every time.
“I go to all these conventions, speak all the time, and look in the audience. And these people sign up every year, go to a convention, thinking they’re going to learn something different. No, you’re lazy. You know exactly what to do.” – David Goggins
It’s so simple really. You know you need to do something, so why no do it? Why not go with the best long term option every time. Unfortunately (or fortunately) your brain isn’t a machine. So what’s the key then? To order takeaway or to go to the gym? The answer is the Anterior Mid-Cingulate Cortex.
Brain imaging Studies
The strongest evidence that aMCC is tied to feelings of motivation comes a study where these regions of the brain were manually stimulated via electrodes. The participants, or the “lab rats” described feelings of perseverance and tenacity—the will to fight, to push through, the feeling that you cannot give up.
Let’s say … if you knew you were driving your car and it was … one of the tires was half flat and you’re only halfway there and you have no other way to turn around and go back, you have to keep going forward . That type of feeling you have. You’re like, you’re like (pats chest) am I gonna, am I gonna to get through this? Am I gonna get through this? - aMCC Electrical Stimulation Participant
The verbal report by one participant is described below. It’s really incredible to watch:
TheaMCC is the “seat” of willpower and will to live. The aMCC grows when you resist temptations and make choices that align with your long-term goals. Each time you choose to go for a run instead of watching TV, or opt for a healthy meal instead of fast food, you're essentially exercising this part of your brain. Conversely, when you give in to temptations or take the path of least resistance, the aMCC can actually shrink.
This neuroplasticity creates a kind of paradox. Ironically, when you need motivation the most—when you're at your lowest point—that's when your willpower is likely to be at its weakest. This is because during periods of low motivation or depression, you're less likely to engage in the very activities that would strengthen your aMCC.
This is actually at the heart of the concept of a downward spiral. If you stop doing the activities that make you the best version of yourself, you cease to grow your aMCC, and as a result, you lose further motivation. This can create a self-reinforcing cycle: less motivation leads to fewer positive actions, which leads to a weaker aMCC, which in turn leads to even less motivation.
Goggins stresses the importance of "callusing the mind," a process of deliberately seeking out discomfort and challenges to build mental resilience. Because in his world, the aMCC, or the motivation muscle is truely like a muscle. If you don’t train it it atrophies.
So how do you turn that downward spiral into an upward one? We’ll explore that in future articles.
Hi! I’m the founder of xzqt.it and I’m passionate about researching cutting edge topics about money, motivation and business, and sharing them with you for free!
Discover the secret techniques politicians use to effortlessly persuade and influence voters. From emotional appeals and establishing credibility, to simplifying complex ideas and creating "us vs. them" mentalities, this in-depth article analyzes the cognitive science and linguistic strategies behind effective political communication. Understand how politicians leverage metaphor, repetition, framing, and even body language to hack your brain and win your vote. Includes insights from leading experts in cognitive linguistics and political discourse analysis.
Discover the hidden mechanisms behind social media addiction. Learn how algorithms exploit your brain's neurobiology, distort time perception, and keep you scrolling. Uncover strategies to break free from the digital matrix and reclaim your time
