Developmental shifts in computations used to detect environmental controllability

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010120
• Publication Date: 2022-06-01T17:49:16Z
• Authors: Hillary A. Raab; Careen Foord; Romain Ligneul; Catherine A. Hartley
• Keywords: Network controllability

Accurate assessment of environmental controllability enables individuals to adaptively adjust their behavior—exploiting rewards when desirable outcomes are contingent upon actions and minimizing costly deliberation inconsequential. However, it remains unclear how estimation changes from childhood adulthood. Ninety participants (ages 8–25) completed a task that covertly alternated between controllable uncontrollable conditions, requiring them explore different discover the current degree controllability. We found while children were able distinguish accuracy assessments improved with age. Computational modeling revealed whereas younger participants’ relied on evidence gleaned through random exploration, older more effectively recruited structure knowledge make highly informative interventions. Age-related improvements in working memory mediated this qualitative shift toward increased use an inferential strategy. Collectively, these findings reveal age-related cognitive processes engaged assess Improved detection may foster increasingly adaptive behavior over development by revealing can be leveraged for one’s benefit.