Limited evidence for executive function load impairing selective copying in a win-stay lose-shift task.

ABSTRACT: The use of 'explicitly metacognitive' learning strategies has been proposed as an explanation for uniquely human capacities for cumulative culture. Such strategies are proposed to rely on explicit, system-2 cognitive processes, to enable advantageous selective copying. To investigate the plausibility of this theory, we investigated participants' ability to make flexible learning decisions, and their metacognitive monitoring efficiency, under executive function (EF) load. Adult participants completed a simple win-stay lose-shift (WSLS) paradigm task, intended to model a situation where presented information can be used to inform response choice, by copying rewarded responses and avoiding those that are unrewarded. This was completed alongside a concurrent switching task. Participants were s

SUBMITTER: Dunstone J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7932141 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature