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Related Concept Videos

Frustration and Conflict: Approach-Approach, Approach-Avoidance01:20

Frustration and Conflict: Approach-Approach, Approach-Avoidance

Frustration occurs when people are obstructed or prevented from achieving a desired goal or fulfilling a perceived need. For example, when someone's input is ignored in a discussion, it can lead to feelings of frustration. Conflict, however, arises from opposing interests, goals, or actions. Conflicts can take various forms based on the nature of these opposing desires or goals.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

A Novel Experimental and Analytical Approach to the Multimodal Neural Decoding of Intent During Social Interaction in Freely-behaving Human Infants
11:14

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Published on: October 4, 2015

A brain network instantiating approach and avoidance motivation.

Jeffrey M Spielberg1, Gregory A Miller, Stacie L Warren

  • 1Department of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA. jspielb2@gmail.com

Psychophysiology
|August 1, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) network is crucial for goal pursuit, with distinct areas managing approach, avoidance, and strategy selection. Motivation levels influence connectivity between DLPFC and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC).

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Decision Making

Background:

  • The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) plays a key role in goal pursuit.
  • Specific DLPFC regions are differentially involved in approach and avoidance motivation.
  • Goal pursuit involves a complex network including the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), cingulate, amygdala, and basal ganglia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the hypothesis that the DLPFC is part of a larger network involved in goal pursuit.
  • To investigate the role of this network in maintaining goals during distraction.
  • To examine how trait motivation influences neural connectivity during goal pursuit.

Main Methods:

  • Functional neuroimaging techniques were used to examine brain connectivity.
  • Connectivity patterns were analyzed in relation to motivation-related areas of the DLPFC.
  • The study focused on the maintenance of goals when faced with distracting stimuli.

Main Results:

  • Examination of connectivity supported the hypothesis of a DLPFC-centered network in goal pursuit.
  • Differential connectivity patterns indicated distinct roles for specific DLPFC areas in approach, avoidance, and strategy selection.
  • Trait motivation differences moderated connectivity between DLPFC and OFC, highlighting its role in motivation instantiation.

Conclusions:

  • The DLPFC is integral to a distributed neural network supporting goal pursuit.
  • Specific DLPFC subregions are specialized for different motivational processes and strategic control.
  • Connectivity between DLPFC and OFC is modulated by individual differences in motivation, impacting goal pursuit.