Don, Hilary;
Davis, Tyler;
Ray, Kimberly;
McMahon, Megan;
Cornwall, Astin;
Schnyer, David;
Worthy, Darrell;
(2020)
Neural Representations of Gain-Loss Frequency in Older and Younger Adults.
PsyArXiv
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Abstract
Research on the biological basis of reinforcement-learning has focused on how brain regions track expected value based on average reward. However, recent work suggests that humans are more attuned to reward frequency. Furthermore, older adults are less likely to use expected values to guide choice than younger adults. This raises the question of whether brain regions assumed to be sensitive to average reward, like the medial and lateral PFC, also track reward frequency, and whether there are age-based differences. We scanned older and younger adults performing the Soochow Gambling task, which separates reward frequency from average reward. Overall, participants preferred options that provided negative net payoffs, but frequent gains. Older adults improved less over time, were more reactive to recent negative outcomes, and showed greater frequency-related activation in several regions, including lateral PFC. We also found broader recruitment of prefrontal and parietal regions in older adults, which may indicate compensation.
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