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Published on: August 25, 2023
642
Cognitive effort increases the intensity of rewards
Mejda Wahab1, Nicole L Mead2, Stevenson Desmercieres1
1Université de Poitiers, INSERM, U1084, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers 86073, France.
PNAS Nexus
|October 23, 2024
Summary
Intense cognitive effort amplifies reward sensitivity, leading to unhealthy behaviors like drug use and overeating. Rest can reverse these effects, suggesting cognitive load impacts decision-making and addiction vulnerability.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Economics
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Intense cognitive effort is linked to mental fatigue and unhealthy behaviors.
- Previous explanations focused on weakened cognitive control.
- An alternative hypothesis suggests cognitive effort amplifies reward impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether cognitive effort enhances the hedonic impact of rewards.
- To examine the effects of cognitive effort on addiction-related behaviors in rats and humans.
- To explore the role of cognitive effort in unhealthy decision-making.
Main Methods:
- Rats underwent cognitive effort tasks before cocaine self-administration.
- Human participants performed cognitive tasks before evaluating food rewards.
- Behavioral and self-report measures assessed drug intake, reward sensitivity, and hedonic enjoyment.
Main Results:
- Cognitive effort increased cocaine intake and its psychostimulant effects in rats.
- Rest periods (2-4 hours) eliminated or reversed these effects in rats.
- In humans, cognitive effort boosted consumption of palatable food by increasing hedonic enjoyment.
- Effects were specific to emotionally relevant rewards (food) and not neutral stimuli.
Conclusions:
- Intense cognitive effort amplifies the perceived intensity of rewards, promoting overconsumption.
- This mechanism may explain poor decision-making under cognitive load.
- Cognitive effort increases vulnerability to unhealthy behaviors, including drug use and overeating.
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