Diminished neural responses predict enhanced intrinsic motivation and sensitivity to external incentive

The duration and quality of human performance depend on both intrinsic motivation and external incentives. However, little is known about the neuroscientific basis of this interplay between internal and external motivators. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine the neural su...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cognitive, affective, & behavioral neuroscience affective, & behavioral neuroscience, 2015-06, Vol.15 (2), p.276-286
Main Authors: Marsden, Karen E., Ma, Wei Ji, Deci, Edward L., Ryan, Richard M., Chiu, Pearl H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Brain - blood supply
Brain - physiology
Brain Mapping
Choice Behavior
Cognitive Psychology
Female
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Linear Models
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Motivation
Neurosciences
Oxygen - blood
Predictive Value of Tests
Principal Component Analysis
Problem Solving
Psychology
Reaction Time
Reward
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Summary:The duration and quality of human performance depend on both intrinsic motivation and external incentives. However, little is known about the neuroscientific basis of this interplay between internal and external motivators. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine the neural substrates of intrinsic motivation, operationalized as the free-choice time spent on a task when this was not required, and tested the neural and behavioral effects of external reward on intrinsic motivation. We found that increased duration of free-choice time was predicted by generally diminished neural responses in regions associated with cognitive and affective regulation. By comparison, the possibility of additional reward improved task accuracy, and specifically increased neural and behavioral responses following errors. Those individuals with the smallest neural responses associated with intrinsic motivation exhibited the greatest error-related neural enhancement under the external contingency of possible reward. Together, these data suggest that human performance is guided by a “tonic” and “phasic” relationship between the neural substrates of intrinsic motivation (tonic) and the impact of external incentives (phasic).
ISSN:1530-7026
1531-135X
DOI:10.3758/s13415-014-0324-5