Older participants learn faster across all territories while younger participants learn better in the environment where a hidden agent generates positive outcomes¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · causal r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2020 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? Optimal choice increased with trial number and age, with steeper learning trajectories in the Millionaire and Sheriff territories than the Robber territory. → Alexandra O. Cohen 2020 q3 i? Younger participants showed better learning in the Millionaire territory, where negative outcomes could only be attributed to their own choice, relative to other environments. → Alexandra O. Cohen 2020 (2)

Evidence¶

Alexandra O. Cohen 2020¶

Alexandra O. Cohen, Kate Nussenbaum, Hayley M. Dorfman, Samuel J. Gershman and Catherine A. Hartley. (2020). The rational use of causal inference to guide reinforcement learning strengthens with age. npj Science of Learning 5:16. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-020-00075-3

q3 · i? · causal · r2

Logistic mixed-effects analysis of trial-wise optimal choice by territory, trial number, age and age-squared (N = 90). Main effects of trial number, age, and age-squared were significant; the trial-by-territory interaction, "p < 0.001", qualified them.

"There was a signi ficant trial number by territory interaction ( χ2(2, N = 90) = 15.40, p < 0.001), such that learning trajectories were steeper for the Millionaire and Sheriff territories than the Robber territory"

Alexandra O. Cohen 2020 (2)¶

Alexandra O. Cohen, Kate Nussenbaum, Hayley M. Dorfman, Samuel J. Gershman and Catherine A. Hartley. (2020). The rational use of causal inference to guide reinforcement learning strengthens with age. npj Science of Learning 5:16. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-020-00075-3

q3 · i? · causal · r2

Trial-wise optimal choice mixed-effects models with territory by age-squared interactions significant, and simulation of the one learning rate model mirrored children's better learning in the Millionaire territory.

"younger participants showed better learning in the environment where the agent intervened to generate positive outcomes, relative to the other environments"

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Participants aged 7–25 attribute positive and negative outcomes to hidden agents in line with the true causal structure of each environment — related
• Trial-level analysis replicates discrete-trials effects: fluency decreases with problem size, is faster for addition than subtraction, and increases across grade — related