Thesis
Learning preferences as an index of individual differences in cognitive flexibility
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Nov 2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00000316
Abstract
A key question in the cognitive control literature involves determining the executive functions that mediate cognitive flexibility (CF) and the brain regions that support them. Recent perspectives have offered persuasive evidence suggesting that CF may be guided by low-level associative learning mechanisms. Empirical data have further shown that learning preferences may capture individual differences in CF. This thesis examines the prediction that CF is a function of individual differences in learning preference (i.e., whether one tends to employ an exploration relative to an exploitation learning strategy) and task demands. In Experiment 1, healthy native English speakers were administered three CF tasks that incorporate either (i) a shifting component, or (ii) a creative thinking component, or (iii) both shifting and creative thinking elements. A classic reward-based learning task was employed to determine each participant's learning style based on their response selection history during the task. Experiment 2 employed a similar paradigm to manipulate prefrontal cortex (PFC) engagement in CF using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and examined interactions between PFC involvement and learning strategy. The combined results of these studies offer new evidence regarding how learning preferences might capture individual differences in CF, while revealing the possible neural mechanisms that support it.
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Details
- Title
- Learning preferences as an index of individual differences in cognitive flexibility
- Creators
- Hayley E. O'Donnell
- Contributors
- Evangelia G. Chrysikou (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- 49 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991014833549304721