Motivation System

The motivation system, in mood disorder research, is comprised of the biological and neurological pathways — most notably, the Behavioral Approach System (BAS), the primary regulatory mechanism of drive and reward-seeking — that manage how a person perceives and pursues rewards. Unlike motivation, which is a subjective feeling of desire, the motivation system is the underlying engine that drives energy and goal-directed behavior. In bipolar disorder, this system is considered hypersensitive, leading to the high-energy overdrive of hypomania/mania when rewards are pursued, and an underactive state during depression where the drive for rewards disappears. In anxiety, the motivation system often becomes conflicted, as the drive to achieve goals is overridden by the system responsible for detecting threats and avoiding harm.