Exploring when to exploit: the cognitive underpinnings of foraging-type decisions in relation to psychopathy.

ABSTRACT: Impairments in reinforcement learning (RL) might underlie the tendency of individuals with elevated psychopathic traits to behave exploitatively, as they fail to learn from their mistakes. Most studies on the topic have focused on binary choices, while everyday functioning requires us to learn the value of multiple options. In this study, we evaluated the cognitive correlates of naturalistic foraging-type decision-making and their electrophysiological signatures in a community sample (n = 108) with varying degrees of psychopathic traits. Reinforcers with different salience were included in a foraging-type decision-making task. Recruitment of various cognitive processes was estimated with a computational model and electrophysiology, and the relationships to psychopathic traits were assessed

SUBMITTER: Atanassova DV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11775269 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature