Cognitive Contributions to Incentive-motivated Action

Abstract

People move more quickly and accurately when they are motivated by incentives. The aim of the present work is to examine the role of high-level cognitive control processes—such as decision-making, planning, and attention—in supporting incentive-motivated action. In the first study, we examine whether sensorimotor decision-making under risk is shaped by cognitive biases or heuristics—we find that it is. In the second study, we examine whether reward alters representations of action in brain areas responsible for high-level planning—we find that it does. In the third study, we examine whether reward helps people resolve response-conflict by inhibiting the preparation of habits or facilitating the preparation of goals—we find that it primarily enhances goal preparation. In the fourth study, we examine whether the cognitive bias called loss aversion can explain why punishment and reward have distinct effects on learning and performance of skilled actions—we find that it cannot. Together, these studies demonstrate that effects of motivation on action depend critically on intervening cognitive control processes.