Developmental shifts in computations used to detect environmental controllability
Hillary A Raab1, Careen Foord2, Romain Ligneul3
1Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Plos Computational Biology
|June 1, 2022
Summary
Children
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Development
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Accurate assessment of environmental controllability is crucial for adaptive behavior.
- Understanding how this assessment ability develops from childhood to adulthood is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related changes in the assessment of environmental controllability.
- To identify the cognitive strategies and mechanisms underlying these developmental shifts.
Main Methods:
- Ninety participants (ages 8-25) performed a task with alternating controllable and uncontrollable conditions.
- Behavioral data on exploration and action choices were collected.
- Computational modeling was used to analyze assessment strategies.
Main Results:
- Accuracy in assessing environmental controllability improved with age.
- Younger children relied on random exploration, while older individuals used task knowledge.
- Working memory capacity mediated the shift towards inferential strategies.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive processes for assessing environmental controllability undergo significant age-related changes.
- Developmental improvements in controllability detection enhance adaptive behavior by optimizing action-outcome learning.
Related Concept Videos
01:10Control Systems
1.4K
Control systems are everywhere in contemporary society, influencing diverse applications from aerospace to automated manufacturing. These systems can be found naturally within biological processes, such as blood sugar regulation and heart rate adjustment in response to stress, as well as in man-made systems like elevators and automated vehicles. A control system is essentially a network of subsystems and processes that collaboratively convert specific inputs into desired outputs.
At the heart...
At the heart...
1.4K
01:25Control Systems: Applications
751
Electrical engineering plays a pivotal role in our daily lives, with control systems at the heart of many applications, from home appliances to sophisticated space shuttles. Control systems manage and regulate the behavior of devices and processes, ensuring they function safely, correctly, and efficiently.
In modern vehicles, control systems manage various functions to enhance performance and safety. The steering wheel and accelerator are primary inputs in a car's control system. The...
In modern vehicles, control systems manage various functions to enhance performance and safety. The steering wheel and accelerator are primary inputs in a car's control system. The...
751
01:26Feedback control systems
443
Feedback control systems are categorized in various ways based on their design, analysis, and signal types.
Linear feedback systems are theoretical models that simplify analysis and design. These systems operate under the principle that their output is directly proportional to their input within certain ranges. For instance, an amplifier in a control system behaves linearly as long as the input signal remains within a specific range. However, most physical systems exhibit inherent nonlinearity...
Linear feedback systems are theoretical models that simplify analysis and design. These systems operate under the principle that their output is directly proportional to their input within certain ranges. For instance, an amplifier in a control system behaves linearly as long as the input signal remains within a specific range. However, most physical systems exhibit inherent nonlinearity...
443
01:17Piaget's Stage 3 of Cognitive Development
678
During Piaget's concrete operational stage, from ages 7 to 11, children exhibit a marked increase in logical thinking skills, specifically in relation to tangible, real-world events. This stage is characterized by the development of several essential cognitive concepts, including conservation, reversibility, and classification, all of which support the child's evolving capacity for structured thought.
Conservation and Constancy of Quantity
A significant cognitive milestone in the...
Conservation and Constancy of Quantity
A significant cognitive milestone in the...
678
01:30Information Processing Approach
172
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
172
01:22Multi-input and Multi-variable systems
162
Cruise control systems in cars are designed as multi-input systems to maintain a driver's desired speed while compensating for external disturbances such as changes in terrain. The block diagram for a cruise control system typically includes two main inputs: the desired speed set by the driver and any external disturbances, such as the incline of the road. By adjusting the engine throttle, the system maintains the vehicle's speed as close to the desired value as possible.
In the absence...
In the absence...
162