The interactive effect of external rewards and self-determined choice on memory

Abstract

Both external motivational incentives (e.g., monetary reward) and internal motivational incentives (e.g., self-determined choice) have been found to promote memory, but much less is known about how these two types of incentives interact with each other to affect memory. The current study (N = 108) examined how performance-dependent monetary rewards affected the role of self-determined choice in memory performance, also known as the choice effect. Using a modified and better controlled version of the choice paradigm and manipulating levels of reward, we demonstrated an interactive effect between monetary reward and self-determined choice on 1-day delayed memory performance. Specifically, the choice effect on memory decreased when we introduced the performance-dependent external rewards. These results are discussed in terms of understanding how external and internal motivators interact to impact learning and memory.