Reward-motivated learning: mesolimbic activation precedes memory formation.

Full Abstract

We examined anticipatory mechanisms of reward-motivated memory formation using event-related FMRI. In a monetary incentive encoding task, cues signaled high- or low-value reward for memorizing an upcoming scene. When tested 24 hr postscan, subjects were significantly more likely to remember scenes that followed cues for high-value rather than low-value reward. A monetary incentive delay task independently localized regions responsive to reward anticipation. In the encoding task, high-reward cues preceding remembered but not forgotten scenes activated the ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, and hippocampus. Across subjects, greater activation in these regions predicted superior memory performance. Within subject, increased correlation between the hippocampus and ventral tegmental area was associated with enhanced long-term memory for the subsequent scene. These findings demonstrate that brain activation preceding stimulus encoding can predict declarative memory formation. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that reward motivation promotes memory formation via dopamine release in the hippocampus prior to learning.

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Author information

Author/s: Adcock, R Alison (RA); Thangavel, Arul (A); Whitfield-Gabrieli, Susan (S); Knutson, Brian (B); Gabrieli, John D E (JD);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA. alison.adcock(-atsign-)ucsf.edu

Grants: MH59940 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Neuron (Neuron), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-May; vol 50 (issue 3) : pp 507-17

Dates: Created 2006/05/05; Completed 2006/06/26; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 16675403, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
Brain Mapping
Cues
Dopamine - metabolism; secretion
Female
Hippocampus - anatomy & histology; physiology
Humans
Learning - physiology
Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Memory - physiology
Motivation
Neural Pathways - anatomy & histology; physiology
Neuropsychological Tests
Nucleus Accumbens - anatomy & histology; physiology
Reward
Synaptic Transmission - physiology
Ventral Tegmental Area - anatomy & histology; physiology

Associated Chemicals: Dopamine (51-61-6)

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