Strong motivation has to be part of any formula for achieving what you want in life. In this talk, Dr Raj Persaud will reveal the surprising science at the heart of motivation that can take you across the finishing line – no matter where that might be. To be compelled by a forceful drive is vital for a life worth living. It’s the key tool you need for achieving your goals. But beyond that, above all its material benefits, motivation is advantageous because at a spiritual or transcendent level, it brings real meaning to our lives.

However, motivation also has a dark side that can drive us to the deepest despair in the face of disappointment. The clinically depressed and suicidal are often the casualties of failed aspiration. Dr Persaud will examine this issue in the talk, and suggest ways of avoiding the pitfalls associated with a strong sense of being impelled forward. The key is to be in charge of your motivation, rather than for it to be in control of you.

So, motivation is clearly a psychological conundrum because on the one hand it can take us towards what is most meaningful to us in life, but on the other, it can plunge us into the abyss of hopelessness when we encounter setbacks.

I contend in this talk that the answer to the conundrum won’t come from motivational gurus, but instead lies firmly in the scientific study of the psyche.

Your brain is constantly changing. Did you have much better memory as a child? Were you able to concentrate on reading a book for a long period of time whereas now you can barely finish a full article on the Internet? Do you tend to procrastinate and feel unable to stop no matter how hard you try? Were you once a much more optimistic person, but now you struggle to feel happy about your life?

These are just a few examples of how your brain changes based on what it experiences most often (scientists call this “activity-dependent brain plasticity”). In this talk, neuroscientist Dr. Gabija Toleikyte will explain the mechanisms underlying high performance, memory formation, attention and productivity. You’ll learn how you can use these insights to be more efficient and effective at work, boost your memory, overcome procrastination, and optimise your cognitive functioning to get more done with less effort and in less time.

Everybody wants to get better at something. Some even aspire to elite level performance. Here’s the good news: psychology and neuroscience have worked out proven ways you can improve and reach elite levels of performance in your chosen field. Once you have a skill, the next thing to worry about is being able to do it under pressure. More good news: there’s also a science of how to perform optimally under pressure.

Now the bad news: there is no ‘neuro-magic pill’ to high level performance. The science will be useful to you, but only if you’re willing to apply what you learn.