Scientists warn: rewards harm
Last reviewed: 17.10.2021
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Scientists have found that the expectation of a reward for their labors prevents the brain from adequately studying and memorizing information.
The study of various animal abilities is almost always associated with some kind of treat - a kind of reward for diligence and work. For example, rodents that demonstrate their skills are subsequently given sweetness, or another treat. Some animals themselves "get" a treat, if they are smart and fulfill the requirements of researchers.
Nevertheless, as experts from Johns Hopkins University and the University of New York noted, the expectation of a reward has a direct impact on the behavior of animals: it means that the subjects behave very differently if they know that no reward will follow. What does it look like? For example, a rodent crawled to a special window in which there was a conclusion with water; after reproducing the sound of pouring water, the animal began to lick the conclusion, trying to drink. If a different sound followed, then the animals were lost, reacting to both reproductions in different ways, in random order. The probability of a logical hit was 50%. In order to remember which of the sounds means the flow of water, the animal needs a certain amount of time. However, when the water withdrawal was removed on the first day of the experiment, the rodents suddenly “turned on” the quick wits and found a reaction to the necessary sound with a 90% hit. Thus, although there was no conclusion with water, they tried to “lap up” as if they were drinking water, and such a reaction followed precisely in those cases when it was necessary.
The study was repeated in two variations and with the involvement of other animals. For example, rodents were asked to press a button to get water - and again they showed the best reaction when there was no reward. Or other rodents were taught to look in a food bowl after a certain sound was heard - however, food appeared here only when there was no light flash in front of the sound. In addition to rodents, experiments were performed on ferrets. And even in these cases, the training of animals was more productive when the award was not involved.
According to the authors of the study, the training process consists of two mechanisms: firstly, animals memorize certain content, information (for example, a behavioral rule - to press a button after an audio signal), the information context, which includes the subsequent award, is also memorized. At the same time, the expectation of refreshments in many cases prevents the brain from displaying its already acquired knowledge. In this situation, we have to look at a less savvy rodent, and a more savvy one, although in reality there is a completely different difference between them: the degree of sensitivity to the expected reward.
Since the experiments were carried out with the participation of different animals, one can assume the presence of a cognitive pattern, which is also applied to people. Of course, I would like to receive the results of research on humans, too, using various kinds of awards (tangible, intangible, etc.). However, now scientists are advising everyone to think less about any kind of reward - only in this case you can be sure of high mental efficiency.
Details of the pilot project are described on the page. Www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-10089-0