Motivated Cognition: Effects of Reward, Emotion, and Other Motivational Factors Across a Variety of Cognitive Domains

Christopher Madan,Christopher R Madan,Rolf Zwaan

doi:10.1525/collabra.111

Abstract

A growing body of literature has demonstrated that motivation influences cognitive processing. The breadth of these effects is extensive and span influences of reward, emotion, and other motivational processes across all cognitive domains. As examples, this scope includes studies of emotional memory, value-based attentional capture, emotion effects on semantic processing, reward-related biases in decision making, and the role of approach/avoidance motivation on cognitive scope. Additionally, other less common forms of motivation–cognition interactions, such as self-referential and motoric processing can also be considered instances of motivated cognition. Here I outline some of the evidence indicating the generality and pervasiveness of these motivation influences on cognition, and introduce the associated ‘research nexus’ at Collabra: Psychology.

Highlights

A growing body of literature has demonstrated that motivation influences cognitive processing
Given the growing literatures demonstrating valence effects in both emotion (Bowen et al, in press; Fredrickson & Branigan, 2005; Gasper & Clore, 2002; Kensinger & Corkin, 2004; Taylor, 1991; Xie & Zhang, 2016) and reward (Jensen et al, 2007; Kahneman & Tversky, 1984; Lejarraga & Hertwig, 2016; Litt et al, 2011; Ludvig et al, 2014; Samanez Larkin et al, 2007) effects on cognition, it is important to be aware of this limitation when only one valence is included in an experimental design
In sum, it is clear that motivation can guide cognition

Summary

Introduction

A growing body of literature has demonstrated that motivation influences cognitive processing. Both emotion and reward are often studied using shocks (Bauch et al, 2014; Bisby & Burgess, 2014; Dunsmoor et al, 2015; Jensen et al, 2007; Murty et al, 2012, 2011; Pessoa, 2009; Phelps & LeDoux, 2005; Redondo et al, 2014; Schmidt et al, 2015; Wang et al, 2013; Weiner & Walker, 1966), food (Beaver et al, 2006; de Water et al, 2017; Isen & Geva, 1987; LaBar et al, 2001; Polanía et al, 2015; Talmi et al, 2013; Wadlinger & Isaacowitz, 2006), emotional face pictures (Bradley et al, 1997; Lin et al, 2012; Tsukiura & Cabeza, 2008; Vrijsen et al, 2013; Vuilleumier & Schwartz, 2001; Woud et al, 2013), or erotic/sexual pictures (Attard-Johnson & Bindemann, 2017; Bradley et al, 2001; Ferrey et al, 2012; Hamann et al, 2004; Iigaya et al, 2016; Most et al, 2007; Sescousse et al, 2013a, 2010).

Results

Conclusion