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Motivational System Resilience

Meaning

Motivational System Resilience refers to the inherent or cultivated capacity of the brain’s reward and pursuit circuitry, centered on the mesolimbic dopamine system, to resist burnout, recover rapidly from unexpected setbacks, and consistently sustain goal-directed behavior despite internal fatigue or external obstacles. A highly resilient motivational system is characterized by stable, regulated dopamine signaling and a strong, predictable link between the expenditure of effort and the anticipation of a meaningful reward. This essential resilience is fundamentally dependent on optimal neurochemical and hormonal balance.