Neurocognitive effects of interest on reward valuation and effort investment in boring contexts

Monotonous tasks are common in academic and professional settings, yet sustaining motivation and effort in such contexts remains a persistent challenge. This research examined whether inserting a brief episode of interest into an otherwise boring, incentivized task could replenish cognitive and motivational resources and sustain effort. Two competing accounts were tested. The contrast-effect hypothesis predicted that once interest was withdrawn, the remaining rewards would lose their impact, and effort would diminish. In contrast, the transfer-effect hypothesis proposed that prior interest would leave a motivational trace that preserves the effectiveness of the rewards. Study 1 (behavioral study) employed a typing task, while Study 2 (fMRI study) used a social preference guessing task, both with performance-contingent monetary incentives. In both studies, participants in the experimental group completed a boring-interesting-boring sequence, whereas those in the control group experienced a boring-neutral-boring sequence. Across two studies, results consistently supported the transfer-effect hypothesis, demonstrating that prior interest enhanced subsequent engagement, effort, and reward sensitivity, even when monetary incentives were reduced. Neuroimaging results further revealed activity in regions involved in reward processing (e.g., anterior cingulate cortex, anterior insula) and attentional control (e.g., lateral occipital cortex, inferior parietal lobule) even after interest was removed, suggesting a lingering motivational effect of interest. These findings integrate reinforcement learning and interest theories and suggest a practical strategy: sandwiching brief, interest-enhancing episodes between boring rewarded tasks can serve as a motivational reset, enabling effort and persistence in low-stimulation environments.