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Motivational influences on memory

Publication ,  Journal Article
Murty, VP; Dickerson, KC
Published in: Advances in Motivation and Achievement
January 1, 2016

Motivation significantly influences learning and memory. While a long history of research has focused on simple forms of associative learning, such as Pavlovian conditioning, recent research is beginning to characterize how motivation influences episodic memory. In this chapter we synthesize findings across behavioral, cognitive, and educational neuroscience to characterize motivation's influence on memory. We provide evidence that neural systems underlying motivation, namely the mesolimbic dopamine system, interact with and facilitate activity within systems underlying episodic memory, centered on the medial temporal lobes. We focus on two mechanisms of episodic memory enhancement: encoding and consolidation. Together, the reviewed research supports an adaptive model of memory in which an individual's motivational state (i.e., learning under states of reward or punishment) shapes the nature of memory representations in service of future goals. The impact of motivation on learning and memory, therefore, has very clear implications for and applications to educational settings.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Advances in Motivation and Achievement

DOI

ISSN

0749-7423

Publication Date

January 1, 2016

Volume

19

Start / End Page

203 / 227
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
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Murty, V. P., & Dickerson, K. C. (2016). Motivational influences on memory. Advances in Motivation and Achievement, 19, 203–227. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0749-742320160000019019
Murty, V. P., and K. C. Dickerson. “Motivational influences on memory.” Advances in Motivation and Achievement 19 (January 1, 2016): 203–27. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0749-742320160000019019.
Murty VP, Dickerson KC. Motivational influences on memory. Advances in Motivation and Achievement. 2016 Jan 1;19:203–27.
Murty, V. P., and K. C. Dickerson. “Motivational influences on memory.” Advances in Motivation and Achievement, vol. 19, Jan. 2016, pp. 203–27. Scopus, doi:10.1108/S0749-742320160000019019.
Murty VP, Dickerson KC. Motivational influences on memory. Advances in Motivation and Achievement. 2016 Jan 1;19:203–227.
Journal cover image

Published In

Advances in Motivation and Achievement

DOI

ISSN

0749-7423

Publication Date

January 1, 2016

Volume

19

Start / End Page

203 / 227