Individual Differences in Reward Sensitivity Modulate the Distinctive Effects of Conscious and Unconscious Rewards on Executive Performance.

Rémi L Capa,Cédric A Bouquet

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00148

Abstract

Executive control can be driven by conscious and unconscious monetary cues. This has raised the exciting question regarding the role of conscious and unconscious reward in the regulation of executive control. Similarities and differences have been uncovered between unconscious and conscious processing of monetary rewards. In the present study, we explored whether individual differences associated with reward sensitivity foster these variations on memory-updating—a core component process of executive control. Participants (N = 60) with low, medium, and high reward sensitivity were selected and performed a numerical memory-updating task. At the beginning of each trial, a high (1 euro) or a low (5 cents) reward was presented subliminally (24 ms) or supraliminally (300 ms). Participants earned the reward by responding correctly. Participants with low reward sensitivity performed better for the high reward only in the subliminal condition. For participants with medium reward sensitivity, performance improved with high reward in both subliminal and supraliminal conditions. When participants had high reward sensitivity scores, the effect of reward was stronger in the supraliminal condition than the subliminal condition. These results show that the distinctive effects of conscious and unconscious rewards on executive performance are modulated by individual differences in reward sensitivity. We discuss this finding with reference to models of conscious/unconscious processing of reward stimuli.

Highlights

Executive control has been defined as “the ability to flexibly and dynamically adjust one’s performance to changing environmental demands and internal goal states” (Barch et al, 2009)
In a first attempt (Bustin et al, 2012), we explored whether individual differences associated with novelty seeking could foster differences in the effect of reward processing on executive function
The present study shows that executive performance associated with the possibility of earning a high reward improved with the increase in the behavioral approach system (BAS) scores when the reward was consciously processed, but not when the reward was subliminally displayed

Summary

Introduction

Executive control has been defined as “the ability to flexibly and dynamically adjust one’s performance to changing environmental demands and internal goal states” (Barch et al, 2009). This ability has been strongly linked to consciousness. Studies have suggested that conscious and unconscious processing of monetary reward can Individual Differences and Executive Control increase performance in tasks requiring executive control (Capa et al, 2011, 2013; Bustin et al, 2012). We explored whether the behavioral activation system – a motivational system responsible for organizing and regulating behavior to attain rewards (Gray, 1989) – may be a crucial factor to explain differences in executive performance (memory-updating) between conscious and unconscious reward processing

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion