Participants earned higher corrected reward rates under low WM load than high WM load in a two-stage RL task¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r2 · q3 · i3 large
Currency · newest study 2025 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i3 Corrected reward rates were significantly higher in the low WM load condition than the high WM load condition (d = 1.58). → Chengyan Yang 2025

Evidence¶

Chengyan Yang 2025¶

Chengyan Yang, Tongran Liu, Mengxin Wen & Xun Liu. (2025). The distinct functions of working memory and intelligence in model-based and model-free reinforcement learning. npj Science of Learning 10:72. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00363-w

q3 · i3 · causal · r2

Paired t-tests comparing 50 participants' performance across low (2-pair) and high (4-pair) WM load blocks of a two-stage RL task. The article reports "higher corrected reward rates in the low WM load condition" with t(49) = 11.2, p < 0.001, d = 1.58.

"participants exhibited higher corrected reward rates in the low WM load condition than that in the high WM load condition (t(49) = 11.2, p < 0.001, d = 1.58)"

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• High WM load shifts learners from model-based toward model-free reinforcement learning strategies — related
• Model-based strategy use and intelligence positively predict RL learning performance, while WM load negatively predicts it — related
• Model-based strategy use partially mediates the effect of WM load on RL learning performance — related