Reward reduces conflict by enhancing attentional control and biasing visual cortical processing.

ABSTRACT: How does motivation interact with cognitive control during challenging behavioral conditions? Here, we investigated the interactions between motivation and cognition during a response conflict task and tested a specific model of the effect of reward on cognitive processing. Behaviorally, participants exhibited reduced conflict during the reward versus no-reward condition. Brain imaging results revealed that a group of subcortical and fronto-parietal regions was robustly influenced by reward at cue processing and, importantly, that cue-related responses in fronto-parietal attentional regions were predictive of reduced conflict-related signals in the medial pFC (MPFC)/ACC during the upcoming target phase. Path analysis revealed that the relationship between cue responses in the right intrapa

SUBMITTER: Padmala S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3175266 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature