Reversal learning is influenced by cognitive flexibility and develops throughout early adolescence

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Development
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Learning and adapting behavioral responses based on feedback is essential throughout development, from childhood to young adulthood.
• Reversal learning, the ability to adjust behavior following changes in stimulus-outcome associations, is a key aspect of cognitive flexibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the developmental trajectory of reversal learning from childhood to adulthood.
• To identify factors contributing to individual differences in reversal learning performance.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 202 participants aged 10 to 22 completed an online study.
• Participants engaged in a novel blocked design reversal learning paradigm.
• Working memory capacity and pubertal development were assessed.

Main Results:

• Reversal learning performance showed significant improvement with age, particularly between ages 10 and 14.
• A positive correlation was found between flexible responses to negative feedback and better reversal learning outcomes.
• Working memory capacity and pubertal development were positively associated with enhanced reversal learning.

Conclusions:

• Flexible feedback processing is a critical component of successful reversal learning across development.
• While performance improves with age, the overall rate of flexible reactions remained stable, suggesting its consistent role in supporting reversal learning independently of age.