Friedel, E; Schlagenhauf, F; Beck, A; Dolan, RJ; Huys, QJ; Rapp, MA; Heinz, A; (2015) The effects of life stress and neural learning signals on fluid intelligence. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci , 265 (1) 35 - 43. 10.1007/s00406-014-0519-3.

Preview

PDF art_10.1007_s00406-014-0519-3.pdf Download (420kB)

Abstract

Fluid intelligence (fluid IQ), defined as the capacity for rapid problem solving and behavioral adaptation, is known to be modulated by learning and experience. Both stressful life events (SLES) and neural correlates of learning [specifically, a key mediator of adaptive learning in the brain, namely the ventral striatal representation of prediction errors (PE)] have been shown to be associated with individual differences in fluid IQ. Here, we examine the interaction between adaptive learning signals (using a well-characterized probabilistic reversal learning task in combination with fMRI) and SLES on fluid IQ measures. We find that the correlation between ventral striatal BOLD PE and fluid IQ, which we have previously reported, is quantitatively modulated by the amount of reported SLES. Thus, after experiencing adversity, basic neuronal learning signatures appear to align more closely with a general measure of flexible learning (fluid IQ), a finding complementing studies on the effects of acute stress on learning. The results suggest that an understanding of the neurobiological correlates of trait variables like fluid IQ needs to take socioemotional influences such as chronic stress into account.

Download activity - last month

Export as CSVJSONXML

Download activity - last 12 months

Export as XMLCSVJSON

Downloads by country - last 12 months

Export as XMLJSONCSV

Archive Staff Only

View Item