Purpose

People tend to remember the feedback they receive after making mistakes more vividly than feedback following correct answers. Prior research shows that when participants are given corrective feedback, they often recall specific details, like the correct answer or even the font color, more clearly than when they responded correctly. This pattern suggests that feedback engages episodic memory, a form of memory that captures the context and experience of a moment, rather than just the facts. Our research builds on these findings by exploring whether this memory boost is linked to dopamine and how it varies across individuals.

Here at the Neuro Mechan-X Lab, we study how the brain responds to feedback and how those responses influence attention and memory. We are especially interested in the role of the dopamine system, which helps signal prediction errors, moments when outcomes differ from expectations. These signals may help prioritize what gets stored in memory. Our research examines how individual differences in dopamine function affect the way people encode and recall feedback, particularly after making mistakes.

We use computer-based tasks to study memory, attention, and self-control. In one task, participants answer questions and receive feedback, then try to remember what they learned. In another, they complete a flanker task, which helps us measure how well they can stay focused and ignore distractions. While participants do these tasks, we use an eye tracker to measure pupil size, giving us insight into brain activity and dopamine-related responses.

By participating, you help us learn how memory and attention are influenced by the brain’s dopamine system. This research could improve how we approach learning, focus, and mental health, especially for people who experience differences in dopamine signaling. Your time helps us better understand how feedback works in the brain and how individual factors like ADHD symptoms or caffeine use might play a role.