Our brain prefers to memorize what is associated with a reward.
An interesting conclusion from the experiments was made by neuroscientists from the University of California. It turns out that our brain filters the incoming flow of information, selecting for memorization in the first place the one that is associated with the reward. And more precisely, the priorities are memories = information associated with the already received reward. Why…
Only a small part of the flow of information falling on us is remembered in detail. In order not to store in memory an excess of insignificant details, our brain leaves in the first place those that are associated with reward. This conclusion was made by the neurobiologists Matthias Gruber and Charan Ranganat on the basis of the experiments performed.
In the study were used the results obtained using the fMRI apparatus. In the first part of the experiment, divided into several stages, its participants were shown various objects, asking irrelevant questions, such as: does the thing that the volunteer sees in the picture weigh more than a basketball? The answer to the question had to look extremely monosyllabic: "yes" or "no." Each of the objects was demonstrated against a certain background, creating a context, depending on which, what was reported to the subjects, the amount of material reward varied. In the final, the participant was informed of the amount won during testing.
After the end of the first round of the experiment, the participants were allowed to relax and unwind while taking a tomogram, as before.
At the next stage, the subjects, unexpectedly for them, were offered to recall how well they memorized the objects viewed in the first part of the experiment. Absolutely all the test participants showed similar results: objects that in their perception were associated with a higher reward were remembered much better. Moreover, in this case, it was better to remember not only the objects themselves, but also the context accompanying them - background, colors, individual details.
Interestingly, on the tomogram made during the rest period after the first stage of the experiment, the scientists were able to record the same activity pattern as at the time when the subject performed the task for a high reward. This could mean only one thing: the participants in the experiment repeatedly scrolled in the memory of events related to the opportunity to receive a higher reward. As a result, the event was better fixed in the memory, which was further demonstrated by subsequent testing.
An increase in the interaction between the hippocampus (brain structure associated with memory) and the zone associated with the reaction to receive reward (ventral tegmental zone) was also noted. This suggested that reward plays a significant role in stimulating the hippocampus in the learning process. It was also suggested that the formation of bonds in the hippocampus is accompanied by the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that performs the role of a natural “prize for successful work”.
On the other hand, as scientists assume, in the process of aging with the development of Alzheimer's disease, the volume of emitted dopamine decreases, which manifests itself as a worsening of memory.
The mechanism described by neuroscientists from the University of California works flawlessly, but the question remains: is it always that which prefers to keep our brain useful for our development in the foreseeable and distant future?
A source
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Only a small part of the flow of information falling on us is remembered in detail. In order not to store in memory an excess of insignificant details, our brain leaves in the first place those that are associated with reward. This conclusion was made by the neurobiologists Matthias Gruber and Charan Ranganat on the basis of the experiments performed.
In the study were used the results obtained using the fMRI apparatus. In the first part of the experiment, divided into several stages, its participants were shown various objects, asking irrelevant questions, such as: does the thing that the volunteer sees in the picture weigh more than a basketball? The answer to the question had to look extremely monosyllabic: "yes" or "no." Each of the objects was demonstrated against a certain background, creating a context, depending on which, what was reported to the subjects, the amount of material reward varied. In the final, the participant was informed of the amount won during testing.
After the end of the first round of the experiment, the participants were allowed to relax and unwind while taking a tomogram, as before.
At the next stage, the subjects, unexpectedly for them, were offered to recall how well they memorized the objects viewed in the first part of the experiment. Absolutely all the test participants showed similar results: objects that in their perception were associated with a higher reward were remembered much better. Moreover, in this case, it was better to remember not only the objects themselves, but also the context accompanying them - background, colors, individual details.
Interestingly, on the tomogram made during the rest period after the first stage of the experiment, the scientists were able to record the same activity pattern as at the time when the subject performed the task for a high reward. This could mean only one thing: the participants in the experiment repeatedly scrolled in the memory of events related to the opportunity to receive a higher reward. As a result, the event was better fixed in the memory, which was further demonstrated by subsequent testing.
An increase in the interaction between the hippocampus (brain structure associated with memory) and the zone associated with the reaction to receive reward (ventral tegmental zone) was also noted. This suggested that reward plays a significant role in stimulating the hippocampus in the learning process. It was also suggested that the formation of bonds in the hippocampus is accompanied by the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that performs the role of a natural “prize for successful work”.
On the other hand, as scientists assume, in the process of aging with the development of Alzheimer's disease, the volume of emitted dopamine decreases, which manifests itself as a worsening of memory.
The mechanism described by neuroscientists from the University of California works flawlessly, but the question remains: is it always that which prefers to keep our brain useful for our development in the foreseeable and distant future?
A source
That's all, with you there was a simple service for choosing sophisticated Dronk.Ru equipment . Do not forget to subscribe to our blog , there will be many more interesting things.
PS * - referral links marked with an asterisk, so you can save money by returning cashback up to 3%. Read more at Dronk.ru/cashback/ or you can receive up to 30% for any purchases by purchasing them through LetyShops cashback service . Sponsor of the LetyShops cashback service . Return money for any purchases on the Internet. Read more about what a cashback service is in our article. We select a cashback service for the 6th anniversary of Aliexpress.