Effects of working memory load on uncertain decision-making: evidence from the Iowa Gambling Task

Frontiers in Psychology
Ji-Fang CuiYing-He Chen

Abstract

The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) simulates uncertain gains and losses in real life situations and thus is a good measure of uncertain decision-making. The role of working memory (WM) in IGT performance still remains unclear. The present study aimed to examine the effect of WM on IGT performance. Three groups of participants matched on gender ratio were randomly assigned to no WM load, low WM load, and high WM load conditions. Initially the three groups did not show significant difference in WM capacity. They finished a modified version of IGT and then their implicit learning effect and explicit cognition on IGT were assessed. Results indicated a linear increasing trend of IGT performance among high WM load, low WM load and no WM load groups; participants in the no WM load and low WM load groups revealed implicit learning effect, while participants in the high WM load group did not; all participants showed explicit cognition on IGT to the same level. These results suggested that participants in the high WM load group showed good explicit cognition to IGT but showed poor performance. This pattern is similar to frontal patients. Further studies should be conducted to explore this issue.

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Citations

Jun 13, 2015·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Glenda Andrews, Jennifer Moussaumai
Oct 28, 2018·Western Journal of Nursing Research·Grant A Pignatiello, Ronald L Hickman
Mar 27, 2020·Frontiers in Psychology·Varsha Singh, Vaishali Mutreja
Jul 12, 2020·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Weizhen XieWeiwei Zhang
Apr 8, 2017·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience·Marlen SchmickerNotger G Müller
Oct 28, 2017·Frontiers in Psychology·Matúš Adamkovič, Marcel Martončik
May 16, 2019·Scientific Reports·Sara GarofaloGiuseppe di Pellegrino
Aug 2, 2019·Journal of Clinical Medicine·Marlen SchmickerNotger G Müller
Jun 28, 2018·Brain Structure & Function·Nicolas ZinkChristian Beste

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Software Mentioned

IGT

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