經過學習獲得的獎賞預測性可以改變相關刺激的顯著性,進而影響個體對該刺激的知覺加工與注意選擇。探究獎賞學習在注意調節中的神經機制有利于理解人類的適應性行為。近期研究發現,大腦不僅可以增強具有獎賞顯著性刺激所在空間位置或相應特征的表征,還可以通過注意抑制機制減弱具有獎賞顯著性的刺激在初級視覺皮層的神經表征,從而減少對它的注意分配。這些研究提示獎賞信號在調節認知控制、優化行為過程中的重要作用。

Learned reward predictiveness alters stimulus salience and modifies visual selective attention towards the reward-associated item. The investigation of the neural mechanism underlying reward-driven modulation on attentional processing promotes the understanding of human adaptive behaviors. Recent studies showed enhanced neural representation of the reward-associated stimulus in terms of its location and feature. Moreover,reward can strengthen suppression over its associated distractor by decreasing attentional allocation and weakening the sensory representation in early visual cortex. These findings suggest a key role of reward signals in modulating cognitive control for behavioral optimization.