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A direct and conceptual replication of post-loss speeding when gambling
Charlotte Eben1, Zhang Chen1, Luc Vermeylen1
1Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Royal Society Open Science
|June 16, 2020
Summary
Losing in decision-making tasks can speed up subsequent actions, contrary to some cognitive theories. This study found that suboptimal outcomes invigorate behavior, suggesting a link to impulsive action and frustrative non-reward.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Suboptimal outcomes, such as losses, can influence decision-making and response times.
- Existing cognitive-control frameworks predict slower responses after errors or negative feedback.
- Previous research suggests losses may affect impulsive action.
Purpose of the Study:
- To replicate and extend findings on the behavioral effects of suboptimal outcomes.
- To investigate whether losses invigorate or inhibit subsequent actions.
- To test predictions from cognitive-control versus frustrative non-reward theories.
Main Methods:
- Direct replication of a gambling task assessing response initiation after wins and losses.
- A novel reward-location guessing task with win, loss, and neutral trial conditions.
- Laboratory and online data collection with a focus on response latencies.
Main Results:
- Participants responded faster after losses compared to wins in both tasks.
- Loss-induced speeding was observed even when controlling for trial outcome frequency.
- Findings align with invigorated behavior following negative feedback, not cognitive inhibition.
Conclusions:
- Suboptimal outcomes, particularly losses, can invigorate behavior, leading to faster response initiation.
- These findings challenge cognitive-control models and support theories of frustrative non-reward and impulsive action.
- The results highlight the complex relationship between negative feedback and behavioral regulation.
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