Implicit and explicit reversal of trained oculomotor movements

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Behavioral Science
• Oculomotor Research

Background:

• Habitual behavior typically arises from extensive training and diminished sensitivity to outcome devaluation.
• Understanding how habit-like oculomotor responses adapt to implicit devaluation within learned contexts is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the adaptation of habit-like oculomotor responses under implicit and explicit outcome devaluation conditions.
• To examine the impact of overtraining on the behavioral rigidity of oculomotor responses.

Main Methods:

• A novel oculomotor learning task with visual shape-reward associations was developed.
• Eye movements of 26 participants were recorded during training, intra-block reversal, and classical devaluation phases.
• Linear mixed-effects models analyzed accuracy and response time (RT) data.

Main Results:

• Overtrained stimuli showed enhanced learning (higher accuracy, faster responses) but greater resistance to goal-directed updating during devaluation.
• Intra-block reversal (unpredictable reward changes) significantly increased RTs for overtrained stimuli, indicating a higher cognitive cost.
• Overtraining led to behavioral rigidity in oculomotor responses, with overtrained stimuli showing more errors post-devaluation.

Conclusions:

• Extended overtraining of oculomotor behavior promotes behavioral rigidity and resistance to updating.
• Unexpected changes in outcome contingencies impose an additional switch cost on habitual oculomotor behavior.
• Findings highlight the cognitive challenges in overriding deeply ingrained habitual eye movement patterns.