Many people who are dissatisfied with their body image or personal health choose to start an exercise routine, but unless it becomes habit, they may lose their motivation. A new article explains that the basal ganglia, or “habit-learning system” of the brain is responsible for developing long-term habits. “It’s all about competition between short-term reward and long-term gain,” says David Eagleman, a Houston neuroscientist and assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University. “It’s the fight all of us make every day. On the short-term, it’s much more comfortable to stay on the couch or on Facebook and not get up. Long-term knows it will benefit you if you get out and exercise.”
© Copyright 2011 by By John Smith, therapist in Bellingham, Washington. All Rights Reserved. Permission to publish granted to GoodTherapy.org.
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