Model-Based Reasoning in Humans Becomes Automatic with Training.

Model-based and model-free reinforcement learning (RL) have been suggested as algorithmic realizations of goal-directed and habitual action strategies. Model-based RL is more flexible than model-free but requires sophisticated calculations using a learnt model of the world. This has led model-based...

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Main Authors: Marcos Economides, Zeb Kurth-Nelson, Annika Lübbert, Marc Guitart-Masip, Raymond J Dolan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2015-09-01
Series:PLoS Computational Biology
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004463&type=printable
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author Marcos Economides
Zeb Kurth-Nelson
Annika Lübbert
Marc Guitart-Masip
Raymond J Dolan
author_facet Marcos Economides
Zeb Kurth-Nelson
Annika Lübbert
Marc Guitart-Masip
Raymond J Dolan
author_sort Marcos Economides
collection DOAJ
description Model-based and model-free reinforcement learning (RL) have been suggested as algorithmic realizations of goal-directed and habitual action strategies. Model-based RL is more flexible than model-free but requires sophisticated calculations using a learnt model of the world. This has led model-based RL to be identified with slow, deliberative processing, and model-free RL with fast, automatic processing. In support of this distinction, it has recently been shown that model-based reasoning is impaired by placing subjects under cognitive load--a hallmark of non-automaticity. Here, using the same task, we show that cognitive load does not impair model-based reasoning if subjects receive prior training on the task. This finding is replicated across two studies and a variety of analysis methods. Thus, task familiarity permits use of model-based reasoning in parallel with other cognitive demands. The ability to deploy model-based reasoning in an automatic, parallelizable fashion has widespread theoretical implications, particularly for the learning and execution of complex behaviors. It also suggests a range of important failure modes in psychiatric disorders.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1553-734X
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language English
publishDate 2015-09-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS Computational Biology
spelling doaj-art-813f9ae5b0844eb88286fad0acd0dd3a2025-08-20T03:46:42ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Computational Biology1553-734X1553-73582015-09-01119e100446310.1371/journal.pcbi.1004463Model-Based Reasoning in Humans Becomes Automatic with Training.Marcos EconomidesZeb Kurth-NelsonAnnika LübbertMarc Guitart-MasipRaymond J DolanModel-based and model-free reinforcement learning (RL) have been suggested as algorithmic realizations of goal-directed and habitual action strategies. Model-based RL is more flexible than model-free but requires sophisticated calculations using a learnt model of the world. This has led model-based RL to be identified with slow, deliberative processing, and model-free RL with fast, automatic processing. In support of this distinction, it has recently been shown that model-based reasoning is impaired by placing subjects under cognitive load--a hallmark of non-automaticity. Here, using the same task, we show that cognitive load does not impair model-based reasoning if subjects receive prior training on the task. This finding is replicated across two studies and a variety of analysis methods. Thus, task familiarity permits use of model-based reasoning in parallel with other cognitive demands. The ability to deploy model-based reasoning in an automatic, parallelizable fashion has widespread theoretical implications, particularly for the learning and execution of complex behaviors. It also suggests a range of important failure modes in psychiatric disorders.https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004463&type=printable
spellingShingle Marcos Economides
Zeb Kurth-Nelson
Annika Lübbert
Marc Guitart-Masip
Raymond J Dolan
Model-Based Reasoning in Humans Becomes Automatic with Training.
PLoS Computational Biology
title Model-Based Reasoning in Humans Becomes Automatic with Training.
title_full Model-Based Reasoning in Humans Becomes Automatic with Training.
title_fullStr Model-Based Reasoning in Humans Becomes Automatic with Training.
title_full_unstemmed Model-Based Reasoning in Humans Becomes Automatic with Training.
title_short Model-Based Reasoning in Humans Becomes Automatic with Training.
title_sort model based reasoning in humans becomes automatic with training
url https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004463&type=printable
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AT annikalubbert modelbasedreasoninginhumansbecomesautomaticwithtraining
AT marcguitartmasip modelbasedreasoninginhumansbecomesautomaticwithtraining
AT raymondjdolan modelbasedreasoninginhumansbecomesautomaticwithtraining