@article{ref1,
title="Effects of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation on attention and memory",
journal="Acta psychologica",
year="2012",
author="Robinson, Lucy J. and Stevens, Lucy H. and Threapleton, Christopher J. D. and Vainiute, Jurgita and McAllister-Williams, R. Hamish and Gallagher, Peter",
volume="141",
number="2",
pages="243-249",
abstract="It is well recognised that motivational factors can influence neuropsychological performance. The aim of this study was to explore individual differences in intrinsic motivation and reward-seeking and the effect of these on attentional and mnemonic processes, in the presence or absence of financial incentives. Forty participants (18-35years) completed two testing sessions where the Attentional Network Test (ANT) and the Newcastle Spatial Memory Test (NSMT) were administered. After a baseline assessment, participants were re-tested after randomisation to a non-motivated (control) group or to a motivated group, where payment was contingent upon performance. Performance in the motivated group was significantly improved compared to the control group on the NSMT (condition by session; F(1,33)=4.52, p=0.041) and the ANT, with participants increasing performance to cued presentations within the alerting network (F(1,36)=5.48, p=0.025) and being less distracted by incongruent stimuli in the executive control network (F(1,36)=6.74, p=0.014). There were significant negative correlations between the 'Interest/ Enjoyment' Intrinsic Motivation Inventory subscale and both NSMT between-search errors and ANT(alerting). In the motivated group, those who had higher self-reported internal motivation were less susceptible to- or affected by- the external motivation of financial incentive. The effects of motivational factors should not be overlooked when interpreting absolute levels of performance in neuropsychological processes.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0001-6918",
doi="10.1016/j.actpsy.2012.05.012",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2012.05.012"
}