PSYC3389 · Psychology

Motivated Behaviors and the Brain

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

Motivated behaviors are critical for the survival of the individual as well as the species. The basic motivated behaviors of 1) reproduction, 2) defense, 3) foraging, and 4) ingestion are innate and are prominent across all species, including humans. The class will discuss how and why these behaviors are necessary for the survival of the species. Throughout the discussion, students will also learn the neural basis underlying both the typical, as well as aberrant, expression of these motivated behaviors. The layout of the course will include discussing the behavior itself, including the evolutionary development of the behavior and the necessity of it, then the underlying neural mechanisms governing these behaviors will be discussed using animal research findings.