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Phasic Alertness Impairs Cognitive Control by Amplifying Competition between Evidence Accumulators.

Jeshua Tromp1, Franz Wurm2, Federica Lucchi2

  • 1Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands jeshuatromp@live.nl.

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Phasic alertness can impair decision-making by introducing transient, evidence-independent input (TEI). This amplifies competition between cognitive processes, hindering control despite faster responses.

Keywords:
arousalcognitive controlmodelingneuromodulationoscillationsurgency

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Decision-Making Science

Background:

  • Phasic alertness typically enhances cognitive performance.
  • However, it can negatively impact decision-making by increasing distractibility and impairing cognitive control.
  • The underlying mechanisms for these detrimental effects remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose and test a novel, biologically informed account of how phasic alertness affects cognitive processes.
  • To investigate the role of transient, evidence-independent input (TEI) in decision-making under phasic alertness.
  • To elucidate the interplay between alertness, cognitive control, and evidence accumulation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized pupil measurements and electrophysiological data from human participants performing an arrow flanker task.
  • Developed and employed a computational model of the flanker task incorporating a transient, evidence-independent input (TEI).
  • Investigated the effects of TEI on evidence accumulators and their lateral inhibition dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Phasic alertness, modeled with TEI, reproduced behavioral effects observed in the flanker task.
  • The model accurately predicted impaired decision-making and cognitive control when TEI amplified competition via lateral inhibition.
  • Pupil and electrophysiological data supported the proposed mechanism of TEI influencing decision processes.

Conclusions:

  • Phasic alertness generates transient, evidence-independent input (TEI) that impacts decision-making.
  • This TEI shortens response times but increases competition among evidence accumulators, impairing cognitive control.
  • A close interplay exists between dynamic alertness changes, cognitive control, and evidence accumulation processes.