Adolescent-to-adult gains in cognitive flexibility are adaptively supported by reward sensitivity, exploration, and neural variability

Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 58, P. 101399 - 101399

Published: May 10, 2024

Language: Английский

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Stochastic decisions support optimal foraging of volatile environments, and are disrupted by anxiety

Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 9, 2025

Abstract Adolescence is a developmental period of relative volatility, where the individual experiences significant changes to their physical and social environment. The ability adapt volatility one’s surroundings an important cognitive ability, particularly while foraging, near-ubiquitous behaviour across animal kingdom. As adolescents experience more in surroundings, we predicted that this age group would be adept than adults at using exploration adjust volatility. We employed foraging task with well-validated computational model characterise mechanisms volatile environments, preregistering hypothesis (aged 16–17; N = 91) exhibit optimal adaptation learning rate environmental compared 24+; 90). However, surprisingly, both exhibited suboptimal adjustment In contrast rate, it was instead participants’ stochasticity (i.e., decision variability) better resembled made by RL agent. Although heightened environment led participants often trial different responses facilitated discovery environment, also found anxiety impaired adaptive ability. finding environments contradicts expectations responsible for successful motivates future work on deleterious role plays when manage periods transition.

Language: Английский

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Linking the Congruency Effect in Memory to Confirmation Bias in Decision-Making Across the Lifespan – Common Roles of the Medial Prefrontal Cortex

European Psychologist, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 24, 2025

Abstract: Memory and decision-making are two key cognitive processes, influencing each other, possessing various commonalities differences. The intricate relationship between the concepts has gained recent emphasis under a neurocognitive system model. aim of this review is to connect these areas research by focusing on – congruency effect in memory confirmation bias research, inspire new directions. In selective literature, studies were chosen based their relevance topics following comprehensive literature searches. begins with an overview concepts, both which notably linked prior experiences, implicating common roles medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Given distinct maturation ageing patterns dorsal ventral parts mPFC (dmPFC vmPFC), we further explore related from developmental neuroscience perspective. This perspective offers valuable tool for understanding underlying mechanisms suggests potential directions future including investigating learning processes associated effect, employing more complete inclusive lifespan samples conducting individual sum, linking may shed light how humans process information experiences.

Language: Английский

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Flexibility in valenced reinforcement learning computations across development

Child Development, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 93(5), P. 1601 - 1615

Published: May 21, 2022

Optimal integration of positive and negative outcomes during learning varies depending on an environment's reward statistics. The present study investigated the extent to which children, adolescents, adults (N = 142 8-25 year-olds, 55% female, 42% White, 31% Asian, 17% mixed race, 8% Black; data collected in 2021) adapt their weighting better-than-expected worse-than-expected when from reinforcement. Participants made choices across two contexts: one more heavily than led better performance, reverse was true. Reinforcement modeling revealed that age, participants shifted valence biases accordance with environmental structure. Exploratory analyses strengthening context-dependent flexibility increasing age.

Language: Английский

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Expecting the unexpected: a review of learning under uncertainty across development

Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 23(3), P. 718 - 738

Published: May 26, 2023

Abstract Many of our decisions take place under uncertainty. To successfully navigate the environment, individuals need to estimate degree uncertainty and adapt their behaviors accordingly by learning from experiences. However, is a broad construct distinct types may differentially influence learning. We provide semi-systematic review illustrate cognitive neurobiological processes involved in two uncertainty: environments with stochastic outcomes, volatile outcomes. specifically reviewed studies ( N = 26 studies) that included an adolescent population, because adolescence period life characterized heightened exploration learning, as well due experiencing many new, often social, environments. Until now, reviews have not comprehensively compared uncertainties this age range. Our main findings show although overall developmental patterns were mixed, most indicate indicated increased accuracy performance, improved age. also found adolescents tended advantage adults children when discuss potential mechanisms explaining these age-related differences conclude outlining future research directions.

Language: Английский

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The preference for surprise in reinforcement learning underlies the differences in developmental changes in risk preference between autistic and neurotypical youth

Molecular Autism, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: Jan. 16, 2025

Risk preference changes nonlinearly across development. Although extensive developmental research on the neurotypical (NTP) population has shown that risk is highest during adolescence, in autistic (AUT) people, who tend to prefer predictable behaviors, have not been investigated. Here, we aimed investigate these and underlying computational mechanisms. We ran a game-like risk-sensitive reinforcement learning task 75 participants aged 6–30 years (AUT group, n = 31; NTP 44). Focusing choices between alternatives with same objective value but different risks, calculated stay probability of risky choice after rewarding or non-rewarding outcome. Analyses using t-tests multiple regression analyses were conducted. Using choice-related data each participant, fit four models compared model data. Furthermore, validated results fitting methods, recovery, parameter posterior predictive check. found significant difference nonlinear AUT groups. The modeling approach revealed individual preferences for surprise modulated such preferences. These findings indicate adolescence period involving preference, possibly due lower aversion. Conversely, show opposite change could be avoidance because low preference.

Language: Английский

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Reversal learning is influenced by cognitive flexibility and develops throughout early adolescence

npj Science of Learning, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: May 12, 2025

Abstract Learning behavioural responses and adapting them based on feedback is crucial from a young age, continuing to develop into adulthood. This study examines the development trajectory contributing factors childhood adulthood using reversal learning paradigm. We tested 202 participants aged 10 22 in an online study, where they learned reversed stimulus-outcome associations new blocked design paradigm were assessed for working memory capacity. Results showed that performance improved with particularly 10- 14-year-olds. Flexible negative correlated better learning. Additionally, pubertal positively associated These findings align previous research, highlighting flexible as key factor As overall rate of reactions did not change it could support independent potentially changing its role during development.

Language: Английский

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A neuro-computational social learning framework to facilitate transdiagnostic classification and treatment across psychiatric disorders

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 149, P. 105181 - 105181

Published: April 14, 2023

Language: Английский

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Old strategies, new environments: Reinforcement Learning on social media

Published: May 22, 2024

The rise of social media has dramatically altered the world – introducing new behaviours which can satisfy our needs. However, it is yet unknown whether human strategies, are well-adapted to offline we developed in, operate as effectively within this environment. Here, describe how computational framework Reinforcement Learning help us precisely frame problem and diagnose where behaviour-environment mismatches emerge. describes a process by an agent learn maximise their long-term reward. Learning, proven successful in characterising behaviour, consists three stages: updating expected reward, valuating reward integrating subjective costs such effort, selecting action. Specific affordances, quantifiability feedback, might interact with at each these stages. In some cases, affordances exploit biases beneficial offline, violating environmental conditions under optimal for example, when algorithmic personalisation content interacts confirmation bias. Characterising impact specific aspects through lens improve understanding digital environments shape behaviour. Indeed, formal could address pressing open questions about use, including its changing role across development, on outcomes mental health.

Language: Английский

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Aging-related alternative splicing drive neoantigen emergence revealed by transcriptome analysis of 1,255 human blood samples

Frontiers in Aging, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: May 9, 2025

This study aimed to identify age-related genes and alternative splicing (AS) events by comprehensive transcriptome analysis of 1,255 healthy blood samples from individuals aged 8–87 years. We identified 1,029 up-regulated 1,186 down-regulated in older individuals, including 17 overlapped with known aging-associated genes, such as TFAP2A Klotho. Gene set enrichment revealed significant alterations immunoregulatory metabolic pathways during aging. However, many senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASP) involved did not exhibit changes gene expression, suggesting that AS may reveal additional mechanisms. Aging also altered 6,320 4,566 impacting immune-related protein domains. The RNA-binding RBMS3 emerged a key regulator aging-specific events. In addition, neoantigen prediction analyses further potential neoantigens generated aging-related events, the HLA-C14:02 allele presenting most neoantigenic peptides. Notably, 60 peptides were confirmed using proteomic data elderly their novel targets for anti-aging immunotherapy. Our provides new insights into role aging, highlights promising avenues

Language: Английский

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