Overlapping Neural Systems Represent Cognitive Effort and Reward Anticipation

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091008
• Publication Date: 2014-03-07T16:29:33Z
• Authors: Eliana Vassena; Massimo Silvetti; Carsten N. Boehler; Eric Achten; Wim Fias; Tom Verguts
• Keywords: Anticipation (artificial intelligence); Ventral striatum; Reward system

Anticipating a potential benefit and how difficult it will be to obtain are valuable skills in constantly changing environment. In the human brain, anticipation of reward is encoded by Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) Striatum. Naturally, rewards have an incentive quality, resulting motivational effect improving performance. Recently has been proposed that upcoming task requiring effort induces similar mechanism as reward, relying on same cortico-limbic network. However, this overlapping anticipatory activity for only investigated perceptual task. Whether generalizes high-level cognitive tasks remains investigated. To end, fMRI experiment was designed investigate tasks. A mental arithmetic implemented, manipulating (difficulty), delay delivery control temporal confounds. The goal test induced expectation bigger higher effort. results showed activation elicited overlapped with prospect ACC striatum, thus highlighting pivotal role circuit sustaining motivated behavior.