Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Format of Original
7 p.
Publication Date
7-2005
Publisher
Elsevier
Source Publication
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
Source ISSN
1074-7427
Original Item ID
doi: 10.1016/j.nlm.2005.03.004
Abstract
Emotional and arousing treatments given shortly after learning enhance delayed memory retrieval in animal and human studies. Positive affect and reward induced prior to a variety of cognitive tasks enhance performance, but their ability to affect memory consolidation has not been investigated before. Therefore, we investigated the effects of a small, non-contingent, intrinsic or extrinsic reward on delayed memory retrieval. Participants (n = 108) studied and recalled a list of 30 affectively neutral, imageable nouns. Experimental groups were then given either an intrinsic reward (e.g., praise) or an extrinsic reward (e.g., $1). After a one-week delay, participants’ retrieval performance for the word list was significantly better in the extrinsic reward groups, whether the reward was expected or not, than in controls. Those who received the intrinsic reward performed somewhat better than controls, but the difference was not significant. Thus, at least some forms of arousal and reward, even when semantically unrelated to the learned material, can effectively modulate memory consolidation. These types of treatments might be useful for the development of new memory intervention strategies.
Recommended Citation
Nielson, Kristy A. and Bryant, Ted, "The Effects of Non-Contingent Extrinsic and Intrinsic Rewards on Memory Consolidation" (2005). Psychology Faculty Research and Publications. 109.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/psych_fac/109
Comments
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Vol. 84, No. 1 (July 2005): 42-48. DOI. © 2005 Elsevier. Used with permission.