publications

Preprints

2026

bioRxiv
Neurocomputational mechanisms underlying the distinct motivational influences of reward and punishment on cognitive control

Debbie M. Yee, Mahalia Prater Fahey, Ziwei Cheng, and 6 more authors

bioRxiv, 2026

Abs DOI Bib

Human motivation is fundamentally shaped by one’s expectations of the reward they could earn for good performance or the penalty they would avoid for poor performance. However, the extent to which distinct brain regions are selectively associated with specific incentives and/or their corresponding influence on control strategy remains unclear. Using model-based fMRI and a novel multi-incentive control task, we observed distinct neural patterns by incentive valence, with ventral striatum and caudal subregion of dorsal anterior cingulate cortex showing greater sensitivity to rewards whereas inferior frontal gyrus and rostral subregion of dorsal anterior cingulate cortex showing greater sensitivity to penalties. Reward-sensitive regions were associated with increased efficiency (e.g., faster responding with moderate decreases in accuracy) whereas penalty-sensitive regions were associated with increased caution (e.g., slower responding with increased accuracy). We disentangled the global and selective influences of motivation on control processes and subjective experience, providing novel insight into the neurocomputational mechanisms of how effort is determined by expected reward and punishment.
@article{Yee2026BioRxiv, author = {Yee, Debbie M. and Prater Fahey, Mahalia and Cheng, Ziwei and Leng, Xiamin and Kim, Joonhwa and Tarlow, Maisy and Mundy, Kaitlyn and Nevins, Samuel and Shenhav, Amitai}, title = {Neurocomputational mechanisms underlying the distinct motivational influences of reward and punishment on cognitive control}, elocation-id = {2025.10.17.682886}, year = {2026}, doi = {10.1101/2025.10.17.682886}, publisher = {Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory}, url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2025/10/18/2025.10.17.682886}, journal = {bioRxiv} }

2026

J Affect Disord

Reduced amygdala habituation to anticipated social rejection in youth with major depressive disorder

Michele Morningstar, M. N. K. Gravelle, Daniel P. Dickstein, and 5 more authors

Journal of Affective Disorders, 2026

DOI Bib

@article{Morningstar2026,
  author = {Morningstar, Michele and Gravelle, M. N. K. and Dickstein, Daniel P. and Silk, Jennifer S. and Dahl, Ronald E. and Nelson, Eric E. and Yee, Debbie M. and Stroud, Laura R.},
  title = {Reduced amygdala habituation to anticipated social rejection in youth with major depressive disorder},
  journal = {Journal of Affective Disorders},
  year = {2026},
  volume = {378},
  pages = {121380},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jad.2026.02.015},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2026.02.015},
  publisher = {Elsevier}
}

2025

TICS

The interoceptive origin of reinforcement learning

Lilian A. Weber, Debbie Yee, Dana M. Small, and 1 more author

Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Sep 2025

DOI Bib

@article{Weber2025InteroceptiveOrigin,
  title = {The interoceptive origin of reinforcement learning},
  author = {Weber, Lilian A. and Yee, Debbie and Small, Dana M. and Petzschner, Frederike H.},
  journal = {Trends in Cognitive Sciences},
  volume = {29},
  number = {9},
  pages = {840--854},
  year = {2025},
  month = sep,
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  doi = {10.1016/j.tics.2025.05.008},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2025.05.008},
}

Cognition

Motivational context determines the impact of aversive outcomes on mental effort allocation

Mahalia Prater Fahey, Debbie M. Yee, Xiamin Leng, and 2 more authors

Cognition, Jan 2025

DOI Bib

@article{PraterFahey2025MotivationContext,
  title = {Motivational context determines the impact of aversive outcomes on mental effort allocation},
  author = {Prater Fahey, Mahalia and Yee, Debbie M. and Leng, Xiamin and Tarlow, Maisy and Shenhav, Amitai},
  journal = {Cognition},
  volume = {254},
  pages = {105973},
  year = {2025},
  month = jan,
  issn = {0010-0277},
  doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2024.105973},
  url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010027724002737},
}

2024

JoCN

Neural and Computational Mechanisms of Motivation and Decision-making

Debbie M. Yee

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, Dec 2024

DOI Bib

@article{Yee2024,
  author = {Yee, Debbie M.},
  title = {Neural and Computational Mechanisms of Motivation and Decision-making},
  journal = {Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience},
  year = {2024},
  volume = {36},
  number = {12},
  pages = {2822-2830},
  month = dec,
  doi = {10.1162/jocn_a_02258},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_02258},
  publisher = {MIT Press}
}

2023

Camb Handb Comp

Neurocomputational Models of Cognitive Control

Debbie M. Yee and Todd S. Braver

In The Cambridge Handbook of Computational Cognitive Sciences, 2023

DOI Bib

@incollection{Yee2023,
  author = {Yee, Debbie M. and Braver, Todd S.},
  title = {Neurocomputational Models of Cognitive Control},
  booktitle = {The Cambridge Handbook of Computational Cognitive Sciences},
  editor = {Sun, Ron},
  year = {2023},
  publisher = {Cambridge University Press},
  address = {Cambridge},
  doi = {10.1017/9781108755610.019},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108755610.019}
}

2022

NBR

Aversive motivation and cognitive control

Debbie M. Yee, Xiamin Leng, Todd S. Braver, and 1 more author

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Feb 2022

DOI Bib

@article{Yee2022Aversive,
  author = {Yee, Debbie M. and Leng, Xiamin and Braver, Todd S. and Shenhav, Amitai},
  title = {Aversive motivation and cognitive control},
  journal = {Neuroscience \& Biobehavioral Reviews},
  year = {2022},
  volume = {133},
  pages = {104497},
  month = feb,
  doi = {10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.12.001},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.12.001},
  publisher = {Elsevier}
}

CABN

Distinct neural profiles of frontoparietal networks in boys with ADHD and boys with persistent depressive disorder

Veronika Vilgis, Debbie M. Yee, Alasdair Vance, and 1 more author

Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, Oct 2022

DOI Bib HTML PDF

@article{Vilgis2022,
  author = {Vilgis, Veronika and Yee, Debbie M. and Vance, Alasdair and Silk, Timothy J.},
  title = {Distinct neural profiles of frontoparietal networks in boys with ADHD and boys with persistent depressive disorder},
  journal = {Cognitive, Affective, \& Behavioral Neuroscience},
  year = {2022},
  volume = {22},
  number = {5},
  pages = {1183--1198},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3758/s13415-022-00999-w},
  publisher = {Springer},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3758/s13415-022-00999-w},
}

STAR Protocols

An fMRI protocol for administering liquid incentives to human participants

Debbie M. Yee, Jennifer L. Crawford, and Todd S. Braver

STAR Protocols, Dec 2022

DOI Bib

@article{Yee2022,
  author = {Yee, Debbie M. and Crawford, Jennifer L. and Braver, Todd S.},
  title = {An fMRI protocol for administering liquid incentives to human participants},
  journal = {STAR Protocols},
  year = {2022},
  volume = {3},
  number = {4},
  pages = {101707},
  month = dec,
  doi = {10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101707},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101707},
  publisher = {Cell Press}
}

2021

JNeurosci

Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex Encodes the Integrated Incentive Motivational Value of Cognitive Task Performance

Debbie M. Yee, Jennifer L. Crawford, Bidhan Lamichhane, and 1 more author

Journal of Neuroscience, Apr 2021

DOI Bib

@article{Yee2021,
  author = {Yee, Debbie M. and Crawford, Jennifer L. and Lamichhane, Bidhan and Braver, Todd S.},
  title = {Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex Encodes the Integrated Incentive Motivational Value of Cognitive Task Performance},
  journal = {Journal of Neuroscience},
  year = {2021},
  volume = {41},
  number = {16},
  pages = {3707--3720},
  month = apr,
  doi = {10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2550-20.2021},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2550-20.2021},
  publisher = {Society for Neuroscience}
}

PLOS Comp Bio

Dissociable influences of reward and punishment on adaptive cognitive control

Xiamin Leng, Debbie M. Yee, Harrison Ritz, and 1 more author

PLOS Computational Biology, Dec 2021

DOI Bib

@article{Leng2021,
  author = {Leng, Xiamin and Yee, Debbie M. and Ritz, Harrison and Shenhav, Amitai},
  journal = {PLOS Computational Biology},
  publisher = {Public Library of Science},
  title = {Dissociable influences of reward and punishment on adaptive cognitive control},
  year = {2021},
  month = dec,
  volume = {17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009737},
  pages = {1-29},
  number = {12},
  doi = {10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009737}
}

2020

Front Psychol

Dissociable Effects of Monetary, Liquid, and Social Incentives on Motivation and Cognitive Control

Jennifer L. Crawford, Debbie M. Yee, Haijing W. Hallenbeck, and 4 more authors

Frontiers in Psychology, Sep 2020

DOI Bib

@article{Crawford2020,
  author = {Crawford, Jennifer L. and Yee, Debbie M. and Hallenbeck, Haijing W. and Naumann, Ashton and Shapiro, Katherine and Thompson, Renee J. and Braver, Todd S.},
  title = {Dissociable Effects of Monetary, Liquid, and Social Incentives on Motivation and Cognitive Control},
  journal = {Frontiers in Psychology},
  year = {2020},
  volume = {11},
  pages = {2212},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02212},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02212},
  publisher = {Frontiers Media S.A.}
}

Comp Psychiatry

Computational Models of Cognitive Control: Past and Current Approaches

Debbie M. Yee and Todd S. Braver

In Computational Psychiatry: A Primer, 2020

DOI Bib

@incollection{Yee2020,
  author = {Yee, Debbie M. and Braver, Todd S.},
  title = {Computational Models of Cognitive Control: Past and Current Approaches},
  booktitle = {Computational Psychiatry: A Primer},
  editor = {Series, Peggy},
  year = {2020},
  publisher = {MIT Press},
  pages = {83--104},
  address = {Cambridge, MA},
  doi = {10.7551/mitpress/11690.003.0006},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/11690.003.0006}
}

2019

CABN

Age-Related Differences in Motivational Integration and Cognitive Control

Debbie M. Yee, Sarah C. Adams, Asad Beck, and 1 more author

Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, Jun 2019

DOI Bib

@article{Yee2019,
  author = {Yee, Debbie M. and Adams, Sarah C. and Beck, Asad and Braver, Todd S.},
  title = {Age-Related Differences in Motivational Integration and Cognitive Control},
  journal = {Cognitive, Affective, \& Behavioral Neuroscience},
  year = {2019},
  volume = {19},
  pages = {692--714},
  month = jun,
  doi = {10.3758/s13415-019-00713-3},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3758/s13415-019-00713-3},
  publisher = {Springer Nature}
}

2018

Curr Opin Behav

Interactions of motivation and cognitive control

Debbie M. Yee and Todd S. Braver

Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 2018

DOI Bib

@article{YeeBraver2018,
  author = {Yee, Debbie M. and Braver, Todd S.},
  title = {Interactions of motivation and cognitive control},
  journal = {Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences},
  year = {2018},
  volume = {19},
  pages = {83--90},
  doi = {10.1016/j.cobeha.2017.11.009},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2017.11.009},
  publisher = {Elsevier}
}

2016

Front Psychol

Humans Integrate Monetary and Liquid Incentives to Motivate Cognitive Task Performance

Debbie M. Yee, Marie K. Krug, Ariel Z. Allen, and 1 more author

Frontiers in Psychology, Jan 2016

DOI Bib

@article{Yee2016,
  author = {Yee, Debbie M. and Krug, Marie K. and Allen, Ariel Z. and Braver, Todd S.},
  title = {Humans Integrate Monetary and Liquid Incentives to Motivate Cognitive Task Performance},
  journal = {Frontiers in Psychology},
  year = {2016},
  volume = {6},
  pages = {2037},
  month = jan,
  doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2015.02037},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.02037},
  publisher = {Frontiers Media S.A.}
}

2014

PLOS Comp Bio

Optimal Behavioral Hierarchy

Alec Solway, Carlos Diuk, Natalia Córdova, and 4 more authors

PLOS Computational Biology, Aug 2014

DOI Bib

@article{Solway2014,
  author = {Solway, Alec and Diuk, Carlos and C\'{o}rdova, Natalia and Yee, Debbie and Barto, Andrew G. and Niv, Yael and Botvinick, Matthew M.},
  title = {Optimal Behavioral Hierarchy},
  journal = {PLOS Computational Biology},
  year = {2014},
  volume = {10},
  number = {8},
  pages = {e1003779},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003779},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003779},
  publisher = {Public Library of Science}
}

PLOS One

Neural Correlates of Letter Reversal in Children and Adults

Liwei King Blackburne, Marianna D. Eddy, Priya Kalra, and 3 more authors

PLOS ONE, May 2014

DOI Bib

@article{Blackburne2014,
  author = {Blackburne, Liwei King and Eddy, Marianna D. and Kalra, Priya and Yee, Debbie and Sinha, Pawan and Gabrieli, John D. E.},
  title = {Neural Correlates of Letter Reversal in Children and Adults},
  journal = {PLOS ONE},
  year = {2014},
  volume = {9},
  number = {5},
  pages = {e98386},
  month = may,
  doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0098386},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0098386},
  publisher = {Public Library of Science}
}