title: Modulating Reward Induces Differential Neurocognitive Approaches to Sustained Attention.
abstract: Reward and motivation have powerful effects on cognition and brain activity, yet it remains unclear how they affect sustained cognitive performance. We have recently shown that a variety of motivators improve accuracy and reduce variability during sustained attention. In the current study, we investigate how neural activity in task-positive networks supports these sustained attention improvements. Participants performed the gradual-onset continuous performance task with alternating motivated (rewarded) and unmotivated (unrewarded) blocks. During motivated blocks, we observed increased sustained neural recruitment of task-positive regions, which interacted with fluctuations in task performance. Specifically, during motivated blocks, participants recruited these regions in preparation for upcoming targets, and this activation predicted accuracy. In contrast, during unmotivated blocks, no such advanced preparation was observed. Furthermore, during motivated blocks, participants had similar activation levels during both optimal (in-the-zone) and suboptimal (out-of-the-zone) epochs of performance. In contrast, during unmotivated blocks, task-positive regions were only engaged to a similar degree as motivated blocks during suboptimal (out-of-the-zone) periods. These data support a framework in which motivated individuals act as "cognitive investors," engaging task-positive resources proactively and consistently during sustaining attention. When unmotivated, however, the same individuals act as "cognitive misers," engaging maximal task-positive resources only during periods of struggle.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research for Veterans (NeRVe) Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA.|Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA.|Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Boston Division VA Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA.|Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esterman
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research for Veterans (NeRVe) Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA.|Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA.|Division of Gerontology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Poole
authors.affiliation: Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA.
authors.forename: Guanyu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA.|Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Boston Division VA Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA.|Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DeGutis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time; D012201:Reward; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: dorsal attention network; motivation; reward; sustained attention; task-positive networks