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flag Scientists found a brain circuit in macaques that acts as a "motivation brake," affecting willingness to start tasks involving discomfort.

flag Scientists have discovered a brain circuit in macaques that acts as a "motivation brake," preventing task initiation when outcomes involve discomfort. flag By suppressing communication between the ventral striatum and ventral pallidum, researchers found monkeys were more willing to start tasks despite unpleasant stimuli, like a puff of air, without changing their risk assessment. flag The findings suggest this neural pathway may contribute to motivation deficits in disorders like depression and schizophrenia, offering insight into potential treatments. flag However, weakening the brake could increase risk-taking, highlighting the need for careful study before human applications.

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