I examined the relationship between reward motivation and hippocampus-dependent declarative memory formation. Learning can be modulated by reward through an interaction between the dopaminergic reward circuit and the hippocampus. In 2 experiments on healthy human volunteers, I tested whether memory formation can be enhanced by stretching monetary-reward motivation through processes of memory reactivation and generalization. The first fMRI experiment tested the effect of reward conditioning on hippocampus-dependent learning in a subsequent non-rewarded visuo-spatial learning task. I observed semantic generalization of reward response in the neural reward circuit and a two-fold effect of reward on learning task recall 24h later: memory for associations was impaired but source memory was enhanced for items with a history of high reward. A second behavioral experiment investigated latent effects of reward motivation on associative memory after forgetting. I found lingering effects of initial monetary reward on response confidence, response times and faster relearning.