Repeated extrinsic rewards following retrieval practice facilitate later memory
Devyn E Smith1, Amanda M Smith1, Hannah R Buras1
1Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, PO Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA.
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
|March 31, 2026
Summary
Receiving rewards after practicing memory retrieval boosts later recall. The effectiveness of both retrieval practice and rewards depends on the retrieved memory
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience of reward
Background:
- Extrinsic rewards enhance memory formation.
- The impact of reward on memory retrieval is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how reward delivery after memory retrieval practice affects subsequent memory.
- To determine if reward benefits are modulated by memory strength.
Main Methods:
- Four behavioral experiments were conducted.
- Participants studied word-image pairs, engaged in retrieval practice with vividness judgments, and received feedback (reward) for some responses.
- A final recognition test assessed memory.
Main Results:
- Repeated rewards following retrieval practice significantly improved later memory performance.
- Items practiced with low vividness were remembered less effectively than unpracticed items.
- Memory benefits from retrieval practice and reward appear contingent on memory strength.
Conclusions:
- Reward delivery after retrieval practice can enhance memory consolidation.
- The strength of the retrieved memory is a critical factor influencing the efficacy of both retrieval practice and reward.
- Future research should explore the neural mechanisms underlying reward-modulated memory retrieval.
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