The effects of strength-based versus deficit-based self-regulated learning strategies on students' effort intentions

In two randomized experiments, one conducted online (n = 174) and one in the classroom (n = 267), we tested the effects of two types of self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies on students’ intentions to put effort into professional development activities: strength-based SRL strategies (i.e., identifying perceived relative strengths and, subsequently, selecting professional development activities to further improve those strengths) versus deficit-based SRL strategies (i.e., identifying perceived relative short- comings and, subsequently, selecting professional develop- ment activities to improve those shortcomings). Across both studies, analysis of variance revealed that, relative to students who used deficit-based SRL strategies, students who used strength-based SRL strategies were higher in perceived competence, intrinsic motivation, and effort in- tentions. Moreover, the results of multi-mediator analysis and structural equation modeling supported the hypothesis that the effect of strength-based versus deficit-based SRL strategies on students’ effort intentions was sequentially mediated by perceived competence and intrinsic motiva- tion. Implications for the application of self-regulated learning strategies in the context of professional self-de- velopment are discussed

Excitatory transmission from the amygdala to nucleus accumbens facilitates reward seeking

Interactions between the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) are involved in a number of reward-processing and addictive behaviours, but our understanding of the precise role of each of these brain areas has been limited by the inability to manipulate pathways selectively during behaviour. Stuber et al. use optogenetic technologies, in which light selectively activates or inhibits genetically-defined neuronal subpopulations, to reveal an unexpected role for the BLA a brain region usually associated with aversive behaviours. The BLA is shown to be important for processing both positive and negative effects, but glutamatergic pathways between the BLA and NAc are specifically associated with reward-seeking behaviours