Cited by 29Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorDecision-Making and Behavioral Economics

How Accumulated Real Life Stress Experience and Cognitive Speed Interact on Decision-Making Processes

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Friedel, Eva·2017·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

Abstract

Rationale: Advances in neurocomputational modeling suggest that valuation systems for goal-directed (deliberative) on one side, and habitual (automatic) decision-making on the other side may rely on distinct computational strategies for reinforcement learning, namely model-free versus model-based learning. As a key theoretical difference, the model-based system strongly demands cognitive functions to plan actions prospectively based on an internal cognitive model of the environment, whereas valuation in the model-free system relies on rather simple learning rules from operant conditioning to retrospectively associate actions with their outcomes and is thus cognitively less demanding. Acute stress reactivity is known to impair model-based but not model-free choice behavior, with higher working memory capacity protecting the model-based system from acute stress. However, it is not clear which impact accumulated real life stress has on model-free and model-based decision systems and how this influence interacts with cognitive abilities. Methods: We used a sequential decision-making task distinguishing relative contributions of both learning strategies to choice behavior, the Social Readjustment Rating Scale questionnaire to assess accumulated real life stress, and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test to test cognitive speed in 95 healthy subjects. Results: Individuals reporting high stress exposure who had low cognitive speed showed reduced model-based but increased model-free behavioral control. In contrast, subjects exposed to accumulated real life stress with high cognitive speed displayed increased model-based performance but reduced model-free control. Conclusions: These findings suggest that accumulated real life stress exposure can enhance reliance on cognitive speed for model-based computations, which may ultimately protect the model-based system from the detrimental influences of accumulated real life stress. The combination of accumulated real life stress exposure and slower information processing capacities, however, might favor model-free strategies. Thus, the valence and preference of either system strongly depends on stressful experiences and individual cognitive capacities.

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  1. Reitan R. M. Wolfson D. (1985). The Halstead-Reitan Neuropsycholgical Test Battery: Therapy and Clinical Interpretation. Tucson, AZ: Neuropsychological Press.

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Authors
Friedel, E.
Affiliations
Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin (DE)
Corresponding author
Friedel, Eva
Venue
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
Published
2017
Volume
11
Pages
302-302
ISSN
1662-5161 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2624789916
Cited by
29
References
58
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3
FWCI
1.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • publish.UP (University of Potsdam) (submittedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
Funders
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (FOR1617, HE2597/14-2, WA1539/7-1, ZI1119/3-1, FR3572/1-1, WA 1539/7-1, HE2597/14-1, HE2597/14/-2, /14-1, HE 2597/14-1, FR3572/1-1)
  • Berlin Institute of Health
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
Keywords
cognitive speed, model-based learning, model-free learning, decision-making, working memory capacity, sequential decision making, Social Readjustment Rating Scale, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, reinforcement learning

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