Releasing the DopaminePaul Boocock – Academy Leader

Prefrontal Cortex

Prefrontal Cortex

• Thinking area of the brain– Rational thought– Emotional Control– Creative, Innovative, Focused,

Organised

Prefrontal Cortex

Lights up like a Christmas Tree when performing tasks that require cognitive

and creative thinking

When it’s in the right state…

Limbic System

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

Right State

• Prefrontal Cortex gets tired very quickly

• The Limbic system takes over when– Too Tired– Too Hungry– Too Thirsty– Too Stressed

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

Sounds Great!

But why should I care?

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

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

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].

Catecholamines

Support & EncourageNeed a pushA 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].

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

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…

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

Motivation

• Three key elements to motivation– Autonomy– Mastery– Purpose

Motivation

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