The Motivated Brain by Gayle Gregory & Martha Kaufeldt

Author:Gayle Gregory & Martha Kaufeldt [Gregory, Gayle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4166-2055-6
Publisher: ASCD
Published: 2015-09-01T00:00:00+00:00

Incentive Salience

Incentive salience is an attribute given by the brain to reward-predicting stimuli. According to Kent Berridge and other researchers, while the SEEKING system is enthusiastically urging us to explore unconditionally, it may also be "wanting" and particularly sensitive to the quality of particular stimuli. Incentive salience changes a simple sensory experience into something that commands our attention and encourages us to approach. This means that some stimuli may have more of a motivational "magnet" quality that makes it a desirable and attractive goal, and causes it to be sought out (Wikipedia contributors, n.d.).

How might understanding incentive salience change what educators do in a classroom? Our students' brains have an urge to explore and investigate, but there is a filter that will heighten the attraction (and motivation) to learn. This filter is always looking for and wanting experiences and opportunities that do the following:

provide for our survival needs right now;

might provide knowledge and assistance for us in the future;

make a connection to what we already know and have an interest in;

offer opportunities to socialize and connect with others;

provide a "call to action" to help others with survival needs (CARE);

give acknowledgment about our own cultural background and identity;

share an opportunity to be acknowledged and build personal prestige; and

provide us time and tools to be creative and to play.

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