Predictors of Probabilistic Selection Task Performance

Learning; Lack of (Specific)

The project aims to investigate whether tDCS has an effect on reward and punishment learning sensitivity. Further, whether tDCS will modulate extraversion and impulsivity personality traits, and eye-blink-rate's effect on learning. For instance, trait extroversion in past research is linked to the dopamine neurotransmitter system, where it is thought that extreme low and high levels are detrimental to cognitive performance. Since tDCS has been shown to increase dopamine levels, it is thought that people who are already high in dopamine may experience less benefit (or even impairment) on cognitive performance following tDCS.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a non-invasive, low intensity and risk, brain stimulation technique known as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the way people learn in a computer administered cognitive task. This will be achieved by comparing participants' performance on this task after receiving placebo 'sham' tDCS in one experimental session, and real 'treatment' tDCS in another experimental session. Neither the researcher administering the session or the participant will be aware of which form of tDCS is being used. Previous research indicates that tDCS of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex brain region stimulates the release of a chemical neurotransmitter, dopamine, that is linked to reward and punishment processing, and implicated in conditions such as addiction and Parkinson's disease. The computerized cognitive learning task presents participants with pairs of six different symbols and asks them to choose one of these. In the first half of the task, participants receive visual feedback (correct or incorrect; +$0.10 or -$0.10) and the symbols are preprogrammed to be rewarded or punished for. In the second part of the task, participants are tested on the same task but do not receive feedback. Further, the effect of participants' personality characteristics (specifically extraversion and impulsivity), as well as eye-blink-rate, on cognitive learning performance will be investigated, as this is known to be influenced by tDCS. Past research suggests that people may respond differently to tDCS based on individual differences in these personality traits, that are linked at a brain circuits level. Participants will be assessed on extraversion and impulsivity personality traits using pen and paper, self-report questionnaires. Similarly, eye-blink-rate is linked to the aforementioned brain neurotransmitter, dopamine, and will be assessed by manually counting of blinks in a video recording of the participant focusing on a stationary point.

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