Cited by 977Memory and Neural MechanismsMemory Processes and InfluencesNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 50 of the 50 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Reward-Motivated Learning: Mesolimbic Activation Precedes Memory Formation

Open access

Adcock, R. Alison, Thangavel, Arul, Whitfield-Gabrieli, Susan, Knutson, Brian, Gabrieli, John D.E.·2006·Neuron

DOI 10.1016/j.neuron.2006.03.036

Open this paper in CoChat — free account Open PDF

Abstract

We examined anticipatory mechanisms of reward-motivated memory formation using event-related FMRI. In a monetary incentive encoding task, cues signaled high- or low-value reward for memorizing an upcoming scene. When tested 24 hr postscan, subjects were significantly more likely to remember scenes that followed cues for high-value rather than low-value reward. A monetary incentive delay task independently localized regions responsive to reward anticipation. In the encoding task, high-reward cues preceding remembered but not forgotten scenes activated the ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, and hippocampus. Across subjects, greater activation in these regions predicted superior memory performance. Within subject, increased correlation between the hippocampus and ventral tegmental area was associated with enhanced long-term memory for the subsequent scene. These findings demonstrate that brain activation preceding stimulus encoding can predict declarative memory formation. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that reward motivation promotes memory formation via dopamine release in the hippocampus prior to learning.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.neuron.2006.03.036

Cites

50 of 50 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

We couldn’t retrieve this paper’s full text, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

AFNI: Software for analysis and visualization of functional magnetic resonance neuroimages
Cox, R. W. (1996) · Computers and Biomedical Research · doi:10.1006/cbmr.1996.0014 · Cited by 10,913
A neural substrate of prediction and reward
Schultz, W., Dayan, P., & Montague, P. R. (1997) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.275.5306.1593 · Cited by 9,388
LOSS OF RECENT MEMORY AFTER BILATERAL HIPPOCAMPAL LESIONS
Scoville, W. B., & Milner, B. (1957) · Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry · doi:10.1136/jnnp.20.1.11 · Cited by 7,322
Memory and the hippocampus: A synthesis from findings with rats, monkeys, and humans.
Squire, L. R. (1992) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.99.2.195 · Cited by 5,376
Predictive reward signal of dopamine neurons
Schultz, W. (1998) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.1998.80.1.1 · Cited by 4,564
Anticipation of Increasing Monetary Reward Selectively Recruits Nucleus Accumbens
Knutson, B., Adams, C. M., Fong, G. W., & Hommer, D. (2001) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.21-16-j0002.2001 · Cited by 2,244
Self-citation
Discrete coding of reward probability and uncertainty by dopamine neurons
Fiorillo, C. D., Tobler, P. N., & Schultz, W. (2003) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1077349 · Cited by 2,085
Building Memories: Remembering and Forgetting of Verbal Experiences as Predicted by Brain Activity
Wagner, A. D., Schacter, D. L., Rotte, M., Koutstaal, W., Maril, A., Dale, A. M., Rosen, B. R., & Buckner, R. L. (1998) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.281.5380.1188 · Cited by 1,644
The role of nucleus accumbens dopamine in motivated behavior: a unifying interpretation with special reference to reward-seeking
Ikemoto, S., & Panksepp, J. (1999) · Brain Research Reviews · doi:10.1016/s0165-0173(99)00023-5 · Cited by 1,450
Dissociation of reward anticipation and outcome with event-related fMRI
Knutson, B., Fong, G. W., Adams, C. M., Varner, J. L., & Hommer, D. (2001) · Neuroreport · doi:10.1097/00001756-200112040-00016 · Cited by 1,300
Self-citation

Flagged first, then by citations

Show all 50 references

Sorted by citations

Items 901–969 of 969

Verarbeitung des relativen Belohnungswertes im menschlichen Gehirn. Eine Metaanalyse hirnbildgebender Studien.
Kaps, L. (2012) · doi:10.53846/goediss-1165
Dedication
Zatorre, R. J. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197558287.002.0004
Coda
Zatorre, R. J. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197558287.003.0010
Copyright Page
Zatorre, R. J. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197558287.002.0003
Communicating Between Auditory Regions and the Rest of the Brain
Zatorre, R. J. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197558287.003.0003
Early Sound Processing
Zatorre, R. J. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197558287.003.0002
The Reward System
Zatorre, R. J. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197558287.003.0006
Music Recruits the Reward System
Zatorre, R. J. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197558287.003.0007
Preface
Zatorre, R. J. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197558287.002.0006
Hemispheric Specialization
Zatorre, R. J. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197558287.003.0005
Why Does Music Engage the Reward System?
Zatorre, R. J. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197558287.003.0008
Pleasure and Beyond
Zatorre, R. J. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197558287.003.0009
Motivated memory
Cowan, E. T., & Murty, V. P. (2024) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-820480-1.00112-1
Reward enhancement of item-location associative memory spreads to similar items within a category
Grandoit, E., Cohen, M. S., & Reber, P. J. (2024) · Cognition & Emotion · doi:10.1080/02699931.2024.2352184
A goal systemic approach to risk taking
Köpetz, C., Starnes, W., Woerner, J. I., Leander, N. P., & Johnson, M. B. (2024) · Advances in experimental social psychology · doi:10.1016/bs.aesp.2024.04.001
The Mesocortical System Encodes the Strength of Subsequent Force Generation
Sugawara, S. K., & Nishimura, Y. (2024) · Neuroscience Insights · doi:10.1177/26331055241256948
Motivated Memory in Younger and Older Adults: A Comparison of Self-serving and Prosocial Incentives
Dematagoda, S. (2024) · doi:10.32920/26052880
The Neuroscience of Motivated Memory
Xie, L. (2024) · Journal of Student Research · doi:10.47611/jsrhs.v13i2.6636
Proteomic evidence for seed odor modifying olfaction and spatial memory in a scatter-hoarding animal
Zhao, X., Wang, Y., & Yi, X. (2024) · Behavioural Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115282
Goal orientation shifts attentional focus and impairs reward-motivated memoryPreprint
Skalaban, L. J., Neeson, A. L., Houser, T. M., DuBrow, S., Davachi, L., & Murty, V. P. (2025) · Learning & Memory · doi:10.1101/lm.054020.124
The Potential of Short-term Visual Memory and Selective Attention Training in Immersive Virtual Reality on Near and Far Transfer Effects in Stroke Patients: Pilot Study
Janavičiūtė, J., Paulauskas, A., & Šinkariova, L. (2026) · Journal of Cognitive Enhancement · doi:10.1007/s41465-026-00362-8
Influences of familiarity and recollection on value-based decision-making
Vaidya, A. R., Castillo, J., Torres, A., & Badre, D. (2025) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0322632
On the origins of human speech: language as an internal trigger of the reward systemPreprint
Nataf, S. (2025) · PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/uchx6_v1
The Influence of Reward Anticipation on Episodic Memory Among 6‐ to 9‐Year‐Old Children: An ERP Study
Lü, Z., Liu, J., Shang, C., Yu, J., Wei, P., & Zhang, Q. (2025) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/psyp.70104
Dissecting the contribution of recent reward versus recent performance history on cognitive effort allocation
Spronkers, F. S., Koolschijn, R. S., Daw, N. D., Otto, A. R., & den Ouden, H. E. M. (2026) · Neuropsychologia · doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2026.109452
Synergistic prioritization in memory: Electrophysiological evidence for metamemory-driven automatic and strategic mechanisms
Zhong, Y., Long, Y., & Jiang, Y. (2025) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2025.113224
Twice as nice: Boosts in adolescent reinforcement learning from Pavlovian bias and age-related prioritization of reward-motivated incidental memoryPreprint
Hegefeld, H., & Davidow, J. Y. (2025) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2025.07.11.664442
Charitable and memorable? Probing the effects of prosocial decisions on face memory in younger and older adults
Dematagoda, S., Junaid, S., & Spaniol, J. (2025) · Aging Neuropsychology and Cognition · doi:10.1080/13825585.2025.2559699 · Cited by 1
Twice as nice: Boosts in adolescent reinforcement learning from Pavlovian bias and age-related prioritization of reward-motivated incidental memoryPreprint
Hegefeld, H., & Davidow, J. Y. (2025) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.108428
Timing of reward cues alters the interaction between reward and interest on memory over time
Hu, Z., & Yang, J. (2025) · npj Science of Learning · doi:10.1038/s41539-025-00374-7
Assessing the roles of subjective value and valence in outcome evaluation for consumer products: evidence from behavioral and electrophysiological experiments
Lin, D., Shen, Q., An, Y., Fu, S., Xiao, Q., Wu, S., Song, X., Jiang, X., Klucharev, V. A., Cai, D., et al. (2025) · Acta Psychologica · doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.106011
Age Differences in Reward Anticipation and Memory
Cushman, K. L. (2012) · TopSCHOLAR (Western Kentucky University)
Memory Attribution and Cognitive Control
Dobbins, I. G. (2015) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-397025-1.00279-7
Region-specific Mechanisms of Estrogen and Age on Neuronal Ensemble Activity During Spatial Navigation
Pleil, K. E. (2010) · DukeSpace (Duke University)
Additional file 2 of Prospective study on a fast-track training in psychiatry for medical students: the psychiatric hat game
Clément, A., Delage, R., Chollier, M., Josse, L., Gaudry, S., Zahar, J., Baubet, T., & Degos, B. (2020) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.13115585
Additional file 1 of Prospective study on a fast-track training in psychiatry for medical students: the psychiatric hat game
Clément, A., Delage, R., Chollier, M., Josse, L., Gaudry, S., Zahar, J., Baubet, T., & Degos, B. (2020) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.13115582
Additional file 2 of The “Neurospeed” game: a fun tool to learn the neurological semiology
Zeidan, S., Baltaze, S., Garcin, B., Liège, A. D., Doridam, J., Josse, L., & Degos, B. (2022) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.19498179
Additional file 3 of The “Neurospeed” game: a fun tool to learn the neurological semiology
Zeidan, S., Baltaze, S., Garcin, B., Liège, A. D., Doridam, J., Josse, L., & Degos, B. (2022) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.19498182
Additional file 1 of The “Neurospeed” game: a fun tool to learn the neurological semiology
Zeidan, S., Baltaze, S., Garcin, B., Liège, A. D., Doridam, J., Josse, L., & Degos, B. (2022) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.19498176
Additional file 3 of Prospective study on a fast-track training in psychiatry for medical students: the psychiatric hat game
Clément, A., Delage, R., Chollier, M., Josse, L., Gaudry, S., Zahar, J., Baubet, T., & Degos, B. (2020) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.13115588
Additional file 1 of “Pharmacotrophy”: a playful tournament for game- and team-based learning in pharmacology education - assessing its impact on students’ performance
Delage, C., Palayer, M., Lerouet, D., & Besson, V. C. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26687744
The Value of Choice Facilitates Subsequent Memory Across DevelopmentPreprint
Hartley, C., & Katzman, P. L. (2020) · OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints)
Relationship Between Cognitive Impairment and Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia
Melillo, A., Perrottelli, A., Mucci, A., & Galderisi, S. (2025) · Comprehensive approach to psychiatry · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-06209-3_14
How to Use Competitions and Games in the Lifestyle Change Program: A resource for Lifestyle Coaches to motivate participants and help them achieve their lifestyle change goals
(2026) · doi:10.15620/cdc/251758
Different dopaminergic circuits defined by D2/D3 receptor availability patterns show structure-specific links to memory in ageing
Yi, Y., Johansson, J. J., Garcia‐Garcia, B., Schulze, P., Baldauf, K., Bodewald, I., Patt, M., Hesse, S., Schildan, A., Genseke, P., et al. (2025) · Journal of the Neurological Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.jns.2025.124854
Neural Representations of Reward-Related Memories Shift across Development
Cohen, A. O., Benear, S. L., Phaneuf-Hadd, C. V., Davachi, L., & Hartley, C. A. (2026) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1325-25.2026
Shared effects of one’s own and others’ experiences during reinforcement learning on episodic memory
Woitow, M., Jang, A. I., Eppinger, B., Nassar, M. R., Braß, M., & Buritica, J. M. R. (2026) · npj Science of Learning · doi:10.1038/s41539-026-00409-7 · Cited by 1
Does signed prediction error drive declarative memory? Evidence from variable choice paradigms
Gurunandan, K., Greve, A., Wilmot, E., & Henson, R. N. (2026) · Memory & Cognition · doi:10.3758/s13421-026-01864-8
Role of the striatum in counterfactual information seeking
Lau, J. K. L., Sakaki, M., FitzGibbon, L., Raw, J., & Murayama, K. (2026) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nsag012
Prospective comparative study of two educational games used to teach neurological semiology
Mazoyer, J., Madec, T., Zeidan, S., Garcin, B., Baltaze, S., Josse, L., & Degos, B. (2026) · Revue Neurologique · doi:10.1016/j.neurol.2026.02.150
Retrospective attention suppresses reward-associated interference in visual working memory
Zhang, Y., Lei, S., Li, G., Hu, X., & Jinhong, D. I. N. G. (2026) · Psychological Research · doi:10.1007/s00426-026-02284-8
Rôle des récompenses dans la sélection et l'utilisation de différentes formes de mémoire : interactions entre l'hippocampe et le striatum
Baudonnat, M. (2011) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/4ca038a7ze168z4f94zbab6za3541fa6267f
Étude du rôle du cervelet dans la plasticité cérébrale : cas de la dystonie
Hubsch, C. A. (2014) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/b1b3ecffz3bddz444fzb2fdz20d59995a1be
Repeated extrinsic rewards following retrieval practice facilitate later memory
Smith, D. E., Smith, A. M., Buras, H. R., & Long, N. M. (2025) · bioRxiv · doi:10.3758/s13423-026-02860-4
Impact d’un régime occidental déséquilibré, de l’obésité et d’une intervention de type bypass ou restriction calorique lors de périodes sensibles du développement sur les réponses neuro-comportementales de jeunes adultes chez le modèle miniporc Yucatan et l’homme
Gautier, Y. (2018) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/1169b49bz1289z4c70za20dz2e2032cbff00
La priorisation humaine. Étude des corrélats cognitifs de l'évaluation des priorités
Valéry, B. (2017) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/07d94122z3a93z473dz878fz84be35bcb332
Longitudinal analysis of brain networks by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a murine model of neuropathic pain-induced depression
Karatas, M. (2019) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/9f5ffcc1z2dfcz4157z8ce5z05964b6bfedf
The modulation of musical pleasure through social sharing : Insights from behavioral and fNIRS hyperscanning studies
Curzel, F. (2024) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/2fd561a4z8a34z4ba2zb07ez61b4db5ea932
Echoes of trauma: The impact of hippocampal impairments on reward and motivational dysfunction in psychosis
O’Brien, K. J., Elliott, B. L., Ered, A., Murty, V. P., & Ellman, L. M. (2026) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2026.106694
Strategy effects and value directed recall of sub- and supra-span word lists
Babu, H. J., Jantz, T. K., Xie, K. Y., & Reuter‐Lorenz, P. A. (2026) · Memory & Cognition · doi:10.3758/s13421-025-01828-4
[These authors contributed equally (shared senior authorship): Markus Werkle-Bergner, Mara Mather.]
Dahl, M., Kulesza, A., Werkle‐Bergner, M., & Mather, M. (2023) · MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society)
Developmental differences in value-directed remembering: effects of testing and feedback in adolescents and adults
Li, Q., Liu, X., Xiao, Q., & Wang, Y. (2026) · Journal of Experimental Child Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jecp.2026.106551
Neural Correlates of Human Food Memory link to Microbial, Homeostatic, and Hedonic Signals: Evidence from a Prebiotic Randomized Clinical TrialPreprint
Jensen, D. E. A., Thieleking, R., Medawar, E., Reinicke, M., Rolle-Kampczyk, U. E., von Bergen�, M., Stümvoll, M., Villringer, A., Beyer, F., & Witte, A. V. (2026) · medRxiv · doi:10.64898/2026.06.14.26355607
Working Memory Deficits in Hippocampal Amnesia are Associated with Apathy
Attaallah, B., Maio, M. R., Tabi, Y. A., Nobis, L., Zambellas, R., Toniolo, S., Irani, S. R., Manohar, S., & Husain, M. (2026) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.0543-26.2026
Active control modulates memory-related activity during encoding and encoding–retrieval similarityPreprint
Ding, Z., Yuan, S., Xu, J., Zhang, S., Hanslmayr, S., Liu, X., & Zhang, M. (2026) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.64898/2026.08.23.746434
Semantic generation masks value directed remembering in memory but not metamemory: Evidence from truth-telling and lie fabrication
Kaya, S., & Besken, M. (2026) · Cognition · doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2026.106730
Prioritizing meaning: value, prediction, and age differences in sentence processing
Chung, Y. M. W., & Federmeier, K. D. (2026) · Frontiers in Cognition · doi:10.3389/fcogn.2026.1862899
Preserved effects of monetary and social rewards on processing speed and episodic memory in aging: Evidence from task performance and skin conductance responses
Choy, C. K., Chin, H. L., Chau, B. K. H., & Yeung, M. K.-C. (2026) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2026.113494
Investigating Training and Transfer in Complex Tasks with Dual N-Back
Jonasson, L. (2011) · Diva portal (Dalarna University Library)

Authors: Adcock, R. A., Thangavel, A., Whitfield-Gabrieli, S., Knutson, B., & Gabrieli, J. D. E.
Affiliations: University of California, San Francisco (US)
Stanford University (US)
Corresponding author: Adcock, R. Alison
ORCID: Adcock, R. Alison
Knutson, Brian
Gabrieli, John D.E.
Venue: Neuron
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2006-05
Volume: 50
Issue: 3
Pages: 507-517
ISSN: 0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2006.03.036
OpenAlex: W2111873046
Cited by: 977
References: 50
Citations by year: 2026: 22 · 2025: 45 · 2024: 55 · 2023: 73 · 2022: 52 · 2021: 55 · 2020: 64 · 2019: 55 · 2018: 56 · 2017: 52 · 2016: 57 · 2015: 61 · 2014: 55 · 2013: 49 · 2012: 44
FWCI: 14.09
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: bronze
doi.org
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
www.elsevier.com/open-access/userlicense/1.0/ (vor, 2634 d)
Locations: Neuron (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Institute of Mental Health (MH59940, R01MH059940)
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords: memory formation, reward anticipation, mesolimbic system, ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, dopamine release, declarative memory, financial incentives
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adult, Brain Mapping, Cues, Dopamine, Female, Hippocampus, Humans, Learning, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Memory, Motivation, Neural Pathways, Synaptic Transmission, Neuropsychological Tests, Nucleus Accumbens, Reward, Ventral Tegmental Area

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Reward-Motivated Learning: Mesolimbic Activation Precedes Memory Formation

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks