Cognitive Fatigue Destabilizes Economic Decision Making Preferences and Strategies

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132022
• Publication Date: 2015-07-31T18:15:59Z
• Authors: O’Dhaniel A. Mull...; Ruth L. F. Leong; Yoanna A. Kurnian...
• Keywords: Satisficing

Objective It is common for individuals to engage in taxing cognitive activity prolonged periods of time, resulting fatigue that has the potential produce significant effects behaviour and decision making. We sought examine whether modulates economic Methods employed a between-subject manipulation design, inducing through 60 90 minutes engagement against control group watched relaxing videos matched period time. Both before after manipulation, participants engaged two making tasks (one gains one losses). The analyses focused on areas making—preferences choice strategies. Uncertainty preferences (risk ambiguity) were quantified as premium values, defined degree direction which alter valuation gamble comparison certain option. strategies each participant strategy metric, contrasts relies upon available satisficing or maximizing information. separately examined these metrics alterations within both losses domains, tasks. Results resulted significantly greater levels reported subjective fatigue, with correspondingly higher effort during cognitively activity. Cognitive did not uncertainty informational strategies, either domains. Rather, test-retest variability across most our measures. These results indicate destabilizes making, inconsistent may reduce quality.