In the article "Lessons from failure: Why we try, try again" by Bethany Brookshire, the discussion of the ventral striatum and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex provides insights into the brain's response to failure and the subsequent motivation to try again.
The ventral striatum is closely associated with reward processing, motivation, and reinforcement learning. When an individual experiences success, this area is activated, reinforcing the behavior that led to that success. Conversely, when faced with failure, the lack of reward can influence how the ventral striatum responds in future situations. Understanding this helps illustrate why failure can be demotivating or discourage individuals from trying again: if the brain interprets failure as a lack of reward, it may lead to decreased motivation or a sense of hopelessness.
On the other hand, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex is involved in decision-making and evaluating outcomes, including assessing the value of potential rewards based on past experiences. This area can help individuals contextualize their failures and evaluate them against their overall goals and motivations. If someone can shift their mindset and view failure as a learning opportunity rather than a definitive endpoint, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex may facilitate a more positive emotional response, thereby promoting resilience and the willingness to try again.
Together, these brain regions underscore the complex interplay between failure, motivation, and learning. They highlight how our neurological responses to failure can shape our future behaviors and attitudes, reinforcing the importance of mindset in overcoming obstacles and pursuing goals.