ADHD Executive Functions Series: Internal Motivation

We’re getting to the end of the explanation of the Executive Functions. One of the key executive functions is Internal Motivation. This Executive Function is another one of the major “aha” moments for me! The brain scan that I’ll show in a minute was another turning point in my fully understanding that ADHD is truly a brain wiring issue, not just a behavioral issue.

So what is happening in the brain when we’re talking about Internal Motivation?

Brain research is now suggesting that all of our preferences, interests and passions are based on how our brain is wired. Our passions choose us, based on how our brain is wired, not the other way around. So when our brain is doing something that it is not wired to “prefer”, then the internal motivation center of our brain needs to step in to help us stay motivated to complete the non-preferred task.

In the brain that has ADHD, the part of the brain that is responsible for internal motivation is often under functioning, functioning inefficiently or not functioning at all.

The brain is miraculous and when one area of the brain isn’t functioning optimally, the brain finds a way to compensate. In this case, there are two areas that you can see are stepping in to help this ADHD brain motivate itself!

So which areas are these that are stepping in you ask? Well, let me ask a question. What happens when you ask your child that has ADHD to do something like a chore that they dislike?

The answers I often get is:

First they avoid the request in some way – they disappear, they ignore me, they say “yes, I’ll get to it” and then get lost in something else.

If pushed further, then the answer is they begrudgingly do the task but they are often very angry, defiant, or emotional in some way.

So the miraculous brain is using the emotion centers to help motivate this brain to do the non-preferred task. That is great information!

The key is to get those emotion centers engaged before requesting the child to do something so their brain is able to “motivate” them to do it. This is an important skill for them to learn – how to do things that are hard, how to motivate their brain and how to persevere to complete non-preferred tasks.

Reference:
Interior Cingulate Cortex Dysfunction in AttentionDeficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Revealed by fMRI and the Counting Stroop

Understanding Executive Functions is critically important to understanding ADHD. If you’d like more information on Executive Functions and how to compensate when they are not functioning well, join us for a full day of education on what ADHD is and how to deal with it with with yours truly along with demonstrations on the implementation of moveMindfully techniques with Kathy Flaminio!

Click here  for more information.

Judy Richardson-Mahre, MA, ADHD-CCSP
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
ADHD Expert & Coach
Parent Coach
Educator
612.930.3903