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Related Experiment Video

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Automated Visual Cognitive Tasks for Recording Neural Activity Using a Floor Projection Maze

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Published on: February 20, 2014

Neural systems of cognitive demand avoidance.

Ceyda Sayalı¹, David Badre²

¹Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, United States.

Neuropsychologia

|June 27, 2018

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Cognitive effort is aversive, but brain activity doesn't fully explain task avoidance. The Default Mode Network's deactivation, not control network changes, predicted avoidance behavior in a parametric study.

Keywords:

Cognitive control Cognitive effort Effort avoidance Effort cost Reward

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Psychology
Decision Science

Background:

Cognitive effort is often avoided, suggesting a 'cost of control'.
Previous research used binary task difficulty, limiting understanding of effort-cost relationships.
The 'cost of control' hypothesis links cognitive control engagement to reduced reward anticipation.

Purpose of the Study:

To parametrically investigate the relationship between cognitive effort, brain activity, and avoidance behavior.
To test the 'cost of control' hypothesis in a dose-response manner.
To identify neural mechanisms underlying avoidance of demanding tasks.

Main Methods:

fMRI scanning of 50 participants performing a demand-selection paradigm with six levels of cognitive control.
Parametric manipulation of cognitive control demands.
Measurement of brain activity in frontoparietal control network (FPN) and Default Mode Network (DMN), and assessment of avoidance behavior.

Main Results:

Frontoparietal control network (FPN) activity increased with cognitive control demands.
Reward network activity decreased as cognitive control demands increased.
Avoidance behavior was not directly predicted by FPN activity changes.
Default Mode Network (DMN) deactivation significantly predicted avoidance behavior across effort levels.

Conclusions:

Findings offer partial support for the 'cost of control' hypothesis.
Default Mode Network (DMN) deactivation plays a crucial role in modulating avoidance of cognitive effort.
Future research should explore the interplay between task-negative networks and effort-based decision-making.