Exploring when to exploit: the cognitive underpinnings of foraging-type decisions in relation to psychopathy
Abstract Impairments in reinforcement learning (RL) might underlie the tendency of individuals with elevated psychopathic traits to behave exploitatively, as they fail to learn from their mistakes. Most studies on the topic have focused on binary choices, while everyday functioning requires us to le...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Publishing Group
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Translational Psychiatry |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03245-2 |
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| author | D. V. Atanassova J. M. Oosterman A. O. Diaconescu C. Mathys V. I. Madariaga I. A. Brazil |
| author_facet | D. V. Atanassova J. M. Oosterman A. O. Diaconescu C. Mathys V. I. Madariaga I. A. Brazil |
| author_sort | D. V. Atanassova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Impairments in reinforcement learning (RL) might underlie the tendency of individuals with elevated psychopathic traits to behave exploitatively, as they fail to learn from their mistakes. Most studies on the topic have focused on binary choices, while everyday functioning requires us to learn the value of multiple options. In this study, we evaluated the cognitive correlates of naturalistic foraging-type decision-making and their electrophysiological signatures in a community sample (n = 108) with varying degrees of psychopathic traits. Reinforcers with different salience were included in a foraging-type decision-making task. Recruitment of various cognitive processes was estimated with a computational model and electrophysiology, and the relationships to psychopathic traits were assessed. Higher Antisocial traits were associated with a bias towards expecting more volatility in the environment when high-salience reinforcers were used. Additionally, higher levels of Interpersonal traits were associated with reduced learning from personalized rewards, as evidenced by reductions in the prediction errors (PEs) about rate of change. Higher Affective traits were associated with lower PEs and aberrant learning from painful punishments. Lastly, the PEs about rate of change were reflected in the trial-wise trajectories of Feedback-Related Negativity event-related potentials. Together, our results point to the importance of volatility processing in understanding aberrant decision-making in relation to psychopathy, demonstrate the relationships between psychopathic traits and learning through reward and punishment, and emphasise the potentially more beneficial effect of personalized rewards and punishment for improving reinforcement-based decision-making in individuals with elevated psychopathic traits. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6201f1cf24c949968aaf7c6c301b19eb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2158-3188 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Translational Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-6201f1cf24c949968aaf7c6c301b19eb2025-02-02T12:43:28ZengNature Publishing GroupTranslational Psychiatry2158-31882025-01-0115111010.1038/s41398-025-03245-2Exploring when to exploit: the cognitive underpinnings of foraging-type decisions in relation to psychopathyD. V. Atanassova0J. M. Oosterman1A. O. Diaconescu2C. Mathys3V. I. Madariaga4I. A. Brazil5Radboud University, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Thomas van Aquinostraat 4Radboud University, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Thomas van Aquinostraat 4Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)Interacting Minds Centre, Aarhus UniversityRadboud University Medical Center, Department of DentistryRadboud University, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Thomas van Aquinostraat 4Abstract Impairments in reinforcement learning (RL) might underlie the tendency of individuals with elevated psychopathic traits to behave exploitatively, as they fail to learn from their mistakes. Most studies on the topic have focused on binary choices, while everyday functioning requires us to learn the value of multiple options. In this study, we evaluated the cognitive correlates of naturalistic foraging-type decision-making and their electrophysiological signatures in a community sample (n = 108) with varying degrees of psychopathic traits. Reinforcers with different salience were included in a foraging-type decision-making task. Recruitment of various cognitive processes was estimated with a computational model and electrophysiology, and the relationships to psychopathic traits were assessed. Higher Antisocial traits were associated with a bias towards expecting more volatility in the environment when high-salience reinforcers were used. Additionally, higher levels of Interpersonal traits were associated with reduced learning from personalized rewards, as evidenced by reductions in the prediction errors (PEs) about rate of change. Higher Affective traits were associated with lower PEs and aberrant learning from painful punishments. Lastly, the PEs about rate of change were reflected in the trial-wise trajectories of Feedback-Related Negativity event-related potentials. Together, our results point to the importance of volatility processing in understanding aberrant decision-making in relation to psychopathy, demonstrate the relationships between psychopathic traits and learning through reward and punishment, and emphasise the potentially more beneficial effect of personalized rewards and punishment for improving reinforcement-based decision-making in individuals with elevated psychopathic traits.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03245-2 |
| spellingShingle | D. V. Atanassova J. M. Oosterman A. O. Diaconescu C. Mathys V. I. Madariaga I. A. Brazil Exploring when to exploit: the cognitive underpinnings of foraging-type decisions in relation to psychopathy Translational Psychiatry |
| title | Exploring when to exploit: the cognitive underpinnings of foraging-type decisions in relation to psychopathy |
| title_full | Exploring when to exploit: the cognitive underpinnings of foraging-type decisions in relation to psychopathy |
| title_fullStr | Exploring when to exploit: the cognitive underpinnings of foraging-type decisions in relation to psychopathy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring when to exploit: the cognitive underpinnings of foraging-type decisions in relation to psychopathy |
| title_short | Exploring when to exploit: the cognitive underpinnings of foraging-type decisions in relation to psychopathy |
| title_sort | exploring when to exploit the cognitive underpinnings of foraging type decisions in relation to psychopathy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03245-2 |
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