Regions showing a significant correlation between the reward‐related enhancement in functional connectivity with SN/VTA seeds and the High confidence Hit rates or the subjective ratings of motivation during retrieving memories with high difficulty. The small volume correction (SVC) method was applied to regions of the substantia nigra (SN)/ventral tegmental area (VTA), striatum, medial temporal lobe (MTL), dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) (FWE, P < 0.05). The regression analysis for PPI contrasts (left SN/VTA seed) reflecting the reward‐related increase of functional connectivity with the reward‐related increase of High‐confidence Hit rates identified the bilateral MTL. In the regression analysis for PPI contrasts (right SN/VTA seed), regions showing a significant correlation between reward‐related increase of functional connectivity and subjective motivation were identified in the right dmPFC. Parameter estimates in a graph were extracted from peaks of regions showing a significant correlation in the Difficult retrieval condition.