Your Brain Gets Tired (This Is How It Fails You)

Why do 80% of New Year's Resolutions fail by mid-January? It’s not because you’re "lazy"—it’s because your brain is biologically wired to resist sudden change. In this video, we dive into the neuroscience of habit formation to explain why relying on "motivation" is a scientific trap. I’m breaking down how your dopamine system might be sabotaging your success before you even start, and the specific neural mechanisms that kill your goals. We’ll cover the three biological hurdles standing between you and your 2026 goals: Reward Prediction Error, Long-Term Potentiation (LTP), and Prefrontal Cortex Fatigue. Most importantly, I’ll share the "neuro-approved" framework to bypass these barriers so you can finally stick to your habits without burning out. Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:46 Dopamine 1:50 Long-Term Potentiation 3:15 Prefrontal Cortex and Basal Ganglia 🧠 KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED The Dopamine Trap: Understanding "Reward Prediction Error" and why quitting actually releases dopamine. Wiring The Habit: How to leverage Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) to turn difficult tasks into automatic behaviours. The Energy Budget: Why your Prefrontal Cortex (your brain's "CEO") gets tired and how to manage your cognitive load to avoid decision fatigue. 🔗 CONNECT WITH ME 📝 Read more on the blog: https://sikainscience.com/ 📸 Instagram:   / sikainscience   📸 Tiktok:   / sikainscience   👋🏾 ABOUT THE CHANNEL I’m Aku Sika, a neuroscience PhD student sharing the real (and sometimes chaotic) side of academic life. From brain organoids to lab fails, productivity hacks to PhD motivation, this channel is your space for science explained simply, student lifestyle tips, and honest insights into the journey of doing a PhD. #Neuroscience #Productivity #NewYearsResolutions #HabitFormation #PhDStudent #Dopamine #SelfImprovement #SikaInScience #StudyTips #BrainScience