Distinguishing Between Learning and Motivation in Behavioral Tests of the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of Personality

Smillie, Luke D.; Dalgleish, Len; Jackson, Chris J.

doi:10.1177/0146167206296951

Cited by 46 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…In contrast, slower and more gradual learning in high-performing older individuals may reflect a habitual learning strategy that relies on repeated experiences of stimulus-reward contingencies (Daw et al, 2011). The results of the correlational analysis nicely support this view by showing that in YA learning to predict future reward depends on fluid abilities (McClure et al, 2004;Shamosh et al, 2008), whereas in OA enhanced reward sensitivity is associated with better learning from future reward (Smillie et al, 2007).…”

Section: Age-related and Individual Differences In Learning To Predicmentioning

confidence: 73%

Age-related prefrontal impairments implicate deficient prediction of future reward in older adults

Eppinger

Heekeren

2015

Neurobiology of Aging

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Foresighted decision-making depends on the ability to learn the value of future outcomes and the sequential choices necessary to achieve them. Using a 3-stage Markov decision task and functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated age differences in the ability to extract state transition structures while learning to predict future reward. In younger adults learning was associated with enhanced activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). In older adults (OA) we found no evidence for PFC recruitment. However, high-performing OA showed enhanced striatal activity, suggesting that they may engage in a model-free (experience-based) learning strategy. Change point analyses revealed that in younger adults learning was characterized by distinct and abrupt shifts in PFC activity, which were predictive of behavioral change points. In OA PFC activity was less pronounced and not predictive of behavior. Our findings suggest that age-related impairments in learning future reward value can be attributed to a deficit in extracting sequential state transition structures. This deficit may lead to myopic decisions in OA if contextual information has to be temporally integrated.

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Section: Age-related and Individual Differences In Learning To Predicmentioning

confidence: 73%

Age-related prefrontal impairments implicate deficient prediction of future reward in older adults

Eppinger

Heekeren

2015

Neurobiology of Aging

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“…When information sampling is free, increased sensitivity to potential global losses would lead to greater information sampling to avoid those losses; but when information sampling is costly, avoidance of losses at the local level could antagonise avoidance of losses at the global level. Previous studies have associated BIS scores with enhanced sensitivity to losses and threat (Perkins et al, 2010; Field, 2006; Smillie et al, 2007). The current study extends these findings to a setting involving decision-making under conflict and suggests that the cost of information sampling moderates the influence of anxiety on decision-making.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The effects of acute tryptophan depletion on costly information sampling: impulsivity or aversive processing?

et al. 2011

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RationaleThe neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) has been implicated in both aversive processing and impulsivity. Reconciling these accounts, recent studies have demonstrated that 5-HT is important for punishment-induced behavioural inhibition. These studies focused on situations where actions lead directly to punishments. However, decision-making often involves making tradeoffs between small ‘local’ costs and larger ‘global’ losses.ObjectiveWe aimed to distinguish whether 5-HT promotes avoidance of local losses, global losses, or both, in contrast to an overall effect on reflection impulsivity. We further examined the influence of individual differences in sub-clinical depression, anxiety and impulsivity on global and local loss avoidance.MethodsHealthy volunteers (N = 21) underwent an acute tryptophan depletion procedure in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design. We measured global and local loss avoidance in a decision-making task where subjects could sample information at a small cost to avoid making incorrect decisions, which resulted in large losses.ResultsTryptophan depletion removed the suppressive effects of small local costs on information sampling behaviour. Sub-clinical depressive symptoms produced effects on information sampling similar to (but independent from) those of tryptophan depletion. Dispositional anxiety was related to global loss avoidance. However, trait impulsivity was unrelated to information sampling.ConclusionsThe current findings are consistent with recent theoretical work that characterises 5-HT as pruning a tree of potential decisions, eliminating options expected to lead to aversive outcomes. Our results extend this account by proposing that 5-HT promotes reflexive avoidance of relatively immediate aversive outcomes, potentially at the expense of more globally construed future losses.

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“…The BAS system is associated with approach motivation, especially in the context of reward (Elliot and Thrash 2002;Smillie et al 2007), so that higher BAS scores are expected to lead to increased impulsivity and risk. In typical development, age is also positively correlated with sensitivity to reward (Steinberg et al 2009), as in this sample.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Failure is Not an Option: Risk-Taking is Moderated by Anxiety and Also by Cognitive Ability in Children and Adolescents Diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

South

Dana

White

et al. 2010

J Autism Dev Disord

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Understanding hetereogeneity in symptom expression across the autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a major challenge for identifying causes and effective treatments. In 40 children and adolescents diagnosed with ASD and 37 IQ-and age-matched comparison participants (the TYP group), we found no differences in summary measures on an experimental risk-taking task. However, anxiety and IQ predicted risk-taking only in the ASD group. Risk-taking was correlated with behavioral inhibition in the ASD group and behavioral activation in the TYP group. We suggest that performance on the task was motivated by fear of failure in the ASD group and by sensitivity to reward in the TYP group. Behavioral markers of anxiety and cognitive ability may improve conceptualization of heterogeneity in ASD.

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Distinguishing Between Learning and Motivation in Behavioral Tests of the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of Personality

Cited by 46 publications

References 39 publications

Age-related prefrontal impairments implicate deficient prediction of future reward in older adults

Age-related prefrontal impairments implicate deficient prediction of future reward in older adults

The effects of acute tryptophan depletion on costly information sampling: impulsivity or aversive processing?

Failure is Not an Option: Risk-Taking is Moderated by Anxiety and Also by Cognitive Ability in Children and Adolescents Diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

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