The neural basis of reward magnitude, effort level, and subjective value: An activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of effort-based reward tasks in healthy cohorts

Neuropsychology. 2026 Feb 9. doi: 10.1037/neu0001068. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Reward motivation refers to the willingness to expend effort in pursuit of reward, which is believed to be affected by reward magnitude, effort level, and subjective value, but its neural basis remains unclear. The present study aims to identify brain regions associated with reward magnitude, effort level, and subjective value in healthy people.

METHOD: We performed an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis. Moreover, we conducted meta-analytic connectivity modeling to examine the coactivation patterns associated with these regions.

RESULTS: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and eligibility criteria, we included 33 task-based functional imaging studies with effort-based reward tasks. The activation likelihood estimation and meta-analytic connectivity modeling meta-analyses found that increased reward magnitude primarily elicited activation in the caudate head and putamen, with coactivation observed in the claustrum, insula, dorsal thalamus, and midbrain red nucleus. Moreover, elevated effort level predominantly engaged the medial frontal gyrus, showing coactivation with the insula and inferior frontal gyrus. Enhanced subjective value was chiefly associated with caudate head activation, coactivated with the thalamus, parahippocampal gyrus, and insula.

CONCLUSION: Our findings provided a framework delineating the integrated insula-frontostriatal-thalamus network for the reward valuation system in healthy people. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:41661588 | DOI:10.1037/neu0001068