How the brain translates money into force: a neuroimaging study of subliminal motivation.

Full Abstract

Unconscious motivation in humans is often inferred but rarely demonstrated empirically. We imaged motivational processes, implemented in a paradigm that varied the amount and reportability of monetary rewards for which subjects exerted physical effort. We show that, even when subjects cannot report how much money is at stake, they nevertheless deploy more force for higher amounts. Such a motivational effect is underpinned by engagement of a specific basal forebrain region. Our findings thus reveal this region as a key node in brain circuitry that enables expected rewards to energize behavior, without the need for the subjects;awareness.

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Author information

Author/s: Pessiglione, Mathias (M); Schmidt, Liane (L); Draganski, Bogdan (B); Kalisch, Raffael (R); Lau, Hakwan (H); Dolan, Ray J (RJ); Frith, Chris D (CD);

Affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for NeuroImaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, 12 Queen Square London WC1N 3BG, UK. pessigli(-atsign-)ccr.jussieu.fr

Grants: (Agency:Wellcome Trust)

Journal and publication information

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

Journal: Science (New York, N.Y.) (Science), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-May; vol 316 (issue 5826) : pp 904-6

Dates: Created 2007/05/14; Completed 2007/05/30; Revised 2007/08/13;

PMID: 17431137, 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.

Adult
Autonomic Nervous System - physiology
Basal Ganglia - physiology
Brain Mapping
Female
Galvanic Skin Response
Hand Strength
Humans

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