Cited by 61Decision-Making and Behavioral EconomicsNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 50 of the 50 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 42 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Performance Under Stress: An Eye-Tracking Investigation of the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT)

Open access
Simonovic, Boban, Stupple, Edward J. N., Gale, Maggie, Sheffield, David·2018·Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience

Abstract

Stress pervades everyday life and impedes risky decision making. The following experiment is the first to examine effects of stress on risky decision making in the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), while measuring inspection time and conscious awareness of deck contingencies. This was original as it allowed a fine grained rigorous analysis of the way that stress impedes awareness of, and attention to maladaptive financial choices. The extended Cognitive Reflection Task (CRT) further afforded examination of the impact of impaired reflective thinking on risky decision making. Stressed participants were slower to avoid the disadvantageous decks and performed worse overall. They inspected disadvantageous decks for longer than the control condition and were slower in developing awareness of their poor deck quality compared to the control condition. Conversely, in the control condition greater inspection times for advantageous decks were observed earlier in the task, and better awareness of the deck contingencies was shown as early as the second block of trials than the stress condition. Path analysis suggested that stress reduced IGT performance by impeding reflective thinking and conscious awareness. Explicit cognitive processes, moreover, were important during the preliminary phase of IGT performance-a finding that has significant implications for the use of the IGT as a clinical diagnostic tool. It was concluded that stress impedes reflective thinking, attentional disengagement from poorer decks, and the development of conscious knowledge about choice quality that interferes with performance on the IGT. These data demonstrate that stress impairs risky decision making performance, by impeding attention to, and awareness of task characteristics in risky decision making.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This eye-tracking study found that acute anticipatory stress impaired Iowa Gambling Task performance by reducing reflective thinking and conscious awareness of deck quality, while also increasing attention to disadvantageous decks. The authors conclude that stress undermines risky decision making through impaired Type II cognitive processes, challenging the view that the IGT primarily diagnoses emotional processing deficits.

Key findings

  • Stressed participants performed worse overall on the IGT: total score −2.68 (31.15) vs. control 58.16 (37.47); main effect of stress condition F(1,74) = 58.80, p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.44, with lower scores in all blocks except Block 1.
  • Stress increased inspection time for disadvantageous decks, especially Blocks 2–5; e.g., Block 4 stress 0.53 (0.20) vs. control 0.17 (0.17), p < 0.005. Control participants showed longer inspection of advantageous decks in Blocks 2–4.
  • Stress reduced cognitive reflection: CRT median = 1 (IQR = 5) in stress vs. median = 4.5 (IQR = 7) in control, U = 128, p < 0.001, r = 0.72. Conscious awareness of deck quality was also lower in stress: total deck ratings 1.19 (6.90) vs. control 7.61 (8.32), F(1,73) = 12.90, p = 0.001, ηp² = 0.15.
  • Path analysis showed no significant direct effect of stress on IGT scores, b = 15.30 (SE = 12.15), p = 0.21, but significant indirect effects through CRT, b = 30.32 (SE = 7.40), p < 0.001, and conscious knowledge, b = 13.64 (SE = 4.67), p = 0.003; indirect paths through inspection time and SBP reactivity were not significant.

Methods

  • Seventy-six undergraduate students (23 male, 53 female; aged 19–56) were randomly allocated to stress or control. Stress was induced with an anticipatory speech task involving a simulated video camera; control participants were not exposed to the stress manipulation. SBP and HR were measured with a Finometer.
  • Participants completed the computerized IGT (140 trials, seven blocks of 20), the seven-item CRT, and Maia and McClelland’s conscious awareness test with deck ratings from −10 to +10 per block. Eye movements were recorded with a Tobii X2-30 eye tracker, and inspection time within deck areas of interest was calculated.
  • Analyses included ANOVA manipulation checks, 2 (condition) × 7 (block) mixed ANOVAs for IGT scores, inspection times, and deck ratings, Mann–Whitney tests for CRT, bivariate correlations, and bootstrapped mediation/path analysis using the Process macro with 10,000 resamples and bias-corrected 95% CIs; alpha was adjusted to p < 0.005.

Limitations

  • The authors state that cortisol was not measured, although they argue the stress induction was effective based on SBP/HR reactivity and that cortisol likely affected learning and performance.
  • The authors note that Maia and McClelland’s awareness test may promote additional cognitive rather than intuitive processing because participants assess deck quality at regular intervals.
  • The authors also report that path analysis revealed a weak relationship between the mediators and overall IGT scores, raising the possibility that the mediators are not strongly related to each other. An evident limitation is the sample: undergraduate students, mostly female, which may restrict generalizability.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00217

Cites

50 of 50 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

26 tests recomputed · 0 with the reported and recomputed p on opposite sides of .05

Figures

Figure 1 Model of stress manipulation as a predictor of Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) scores, mediated by Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) reactivity, inspection time, Cognitive Reflection Task (CRT) and conscious knowledge. The Confidence Interval (CI) for the indirect effect is a BCa bootstrapped CI based on 10,000 samples.
Figure 1 Model of stress manipulation as a predictor of Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) scores, mediated by Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) reactivity, inspection time, Cognitive Reflection Task (CRT) and conscious knowledge. The Confidence Interval (CI) for the indirect effect is a BCa bootstrapped CI based on 10,000 samples.CC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

56 Own result · 28 Own interpretation · 11 Check pending · 9 No full text of the sources · 6 Own method · 4 Not checked yet · 3 Sources not found · 2 No basis given

Verify all 15 references — free account

Show all 87 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 22
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 15
32 of 32
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Participants develop a 'gut feeling' (or somatic marker) about the goodness or badness of decks and progressively acquire conceptual knowledge and awareness about task contingencies.

    “It is assumed that participants develop a “gut feeling” (or somatic marker) about the “goodness” or “badness” of decks and progressively acquire conceptual knowledge and awareness about task contingencies.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Inspection time within each area of interest reflects attention to the corresponding deck.

    “For each participant and each decision, the inspection time within each AOI was calculated.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The path analysis model's assumed causal ordering (stress manipulation → mediators → IGT performance) is correct.

    “For the path analyses, stress manipulation was an independent variable and overall IGT score was the dependent variable. CRT scores, inspection time, conscious knowledge and SBP reactivity were indirect pathways.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    SBP/HR reactivity is a valid index of the stress manipulation.

    “The stress manipulation successfully increased SBP/HR reactivity.”
4 of 4

Statistics that don’t add up

Each reported p-value recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom.

2 of 2

Statistics recomputed

Every reported test result, recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom. A result shows as not adding up only once an independent check has confirmed it.

  • Doesn’t add upF(2.75, 200.67) = 1.62reported p = .13 · recomputed p = .190

    “F(2.75,200.67) = 1.62, p = .13”

  • Doesn’t add upz = -0.53reported p = .49 · recomputed p = .596

    “Z = −0.53, p = .49”

  • ConsistentF(1, 74) = 13.63reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(1,74) = 13.63, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(1, 74) = 4.07reported p < .05 · recomputed p = .047

    “F(1,74) = 4.07, p < .05”

  • ConsistentF(1, 74) = 58.8reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(1,74) = 58.80, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(4.25, 314.32) = 33.29reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(4.25,314.32) = 33.29, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(4.25, 314.32) = 7.44reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(4.25,314.32) = 7.44, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(1, 74) = 89.25reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(1,74) = 89.25, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(4.14, 306.16) = 21.81reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(4.14,306.16) = 21.81, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(4.14, 306.16) = 26.16reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(4.14,306.16) = 26.16, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(1, 74) = 7.52reported p = .008 · recomputed p = .008

    “F(1,74) = 7.52, p = .008”

  • ConsistentF(3.78, 280.19) = 12.12reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(3.78,280.19) = 12.12, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(3.78, 280.19) = 10.88reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(3.78,280.19) = 10.88, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(1, 73) = 12.9reported p = .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(1,73) = 12.90, p = .001”

  • ConsistentF(2.75, 200.67) = 26.43reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(2.75,200.67) = 26.43, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(1, 74) = 80.35reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(1,74) = 80.35, p < .001”

  • Consistentt(74) = 8.96reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “t(74) = 8.96, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(1, 74) = 21.54reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(1,74) = 21.54, p < .001”

  • Consistentt(74) = -4.64reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “t(74) = −4.64, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(1, 74) = 90.93reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(1,74) = 90.93, p < .001”

  • Consistentt(74) = -9.54reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “t(74) = −9.54, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(1, 74) = 12.98reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(1,74) = 12.98, p < .001”

  • Consistentt(74) = -3.6reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “t(74) = −3.60, p < .001”

  • Consistentz = 4.09reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “Z = 4.09, p < .001”

  • Consistentz = 2.92reported p = .003 · recomputed p = .004

    “Z = 2.92, p = .003”

  • Consistentz = 0.49reported p = .63 · recomputed p = .624

    “Z = 0.49, p = .63”

26 of 26

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

4 of 4

Citations

Cites

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Kahneman, 2011, Thinking, Fast and Slow.

Cited by

Sorted by citations

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Metadata

Authors
Simonovic, B., Stupple, E. J. N., Gale, M., & Sheffield, D.
Affiliations
University of Derby (GB)
Corresponding author
Stupple, Edward J. N.
Venue
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
Published
2018-09-24
Volume
12
Pages
217-217
ISSN
1662-5153 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2892420021
Cited by
61
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2
FWCI
2.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • University of Derby Online Research Archive. (University of Derby) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
stress, risky decision making, Iowa Gambling Task, inspection time, conscious awareness, cognitive reflection, reflective thinking, attentional disengagement, financial decision-making, clinical diagnostic tool

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