Adult age differences in the integration of values for self and other
Abstract Previous research suggests that older adults may display more prosocial behavior than younger adults. However, recent meta-analyses indicate that effects are heterogeneous, may be small, and are influenced by how prosociality is measured. Further, the precise cognitive and computational fac...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96656-6 |
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| author | Lena Pollerhoff Anne Saulin Marcel Kurtz Julia Stietz Xue-Rui Peng Grit Hein Anita Tusche Philipp Kanske Shu-Chen Li Andrea M.F. Reiter |
| author_facet | Lena Pollerhoff Anne Saulin Marcel Kurtz Julia Stietz Xue-Rui Peng Grit Hein Anita Tusche Philipp Kanske Shu-Chen Li Andrea M.F. Reiter |
| author_sort | Lena Pollerhoff |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Previous research suggests that older adults may display more prosocial behavior than younger adults. However, recent meta-analyses indicate that effects are heterogeneous, may be small, and are influenced by how prosociality is measured. Further, the precise cognitive and computational factors contributing to age-related differences in prosocial behavior remain largely unknown. In this study, we utilized a modified dictator game to combine a value-based decision framework with Bayesian hierarchical drift-diffusion modeling to investigate prosocial decision-making in a sample of younger (n = 63) and older adults (n = 48). We observed differences in how older and younger individuals incorporate information corresponding to potential gains for themselves (self) and another person (other) to reach a (potentially prosocial) decision. Younger adults integrated values for benefits for themselves and others in the decision-making process and demonstrated increased decision-making efficiency by effectively integrating both sources of information. In contrast, older adults showed improved decision-making efficiency when solely considering values for self and others separately. Interestingly, individual differences in the capacity of inhibitory control in older adults moderated the observed age effects: older adults with stronger inhibitory control abilities made decisions based on the integrated information of benefits for themselves and others. Together, these findings offer new insights into the behavioral and computational mechanisms influencing age effects in prosocial decision-making. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d7b193aeb6db4b93b7655111b252f106 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-d7b193aeb6db4b93b7655111b252f1062025-08-20T02:17:54ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111810.1038/s41598-025-96656-6Adult age differences in the integration of values for self and otherLena Pollerhoff0Anne Saulin1Marcel Kurtz2Julia Stietz3Xue-Rui Peng4Grit Hein5Anita Tusche6Philipp Kanske7Shu-Chen Li8Andrea M.F. Reiter9Lifespan Developmental Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität DresdenTranslational Social Neuroscience Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University Hospital WürzburgClinical Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität DresdenClinical Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität DresdenLifespan Developmental Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität DresdenTranslational Social Neuroscience Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University Hospital WürzburgDepartment of Psychology, Queen’s UniversityClinical Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität DresdenLifespan Developmental Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität DresdenLifespan Developmental Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität DresdenAbstract Previous research suggests that older adults may display more prosocial behavior than younger adults. However, recent meta-analyses indicate that effects are heterogeneous, may be small, and are influenced by how prosociality is measured. Further, the precise cognitive and computational factors contributing to age-related differences in prosocial behavior remain largely unknown. In this study, we utilized a modified dictator game to combine a value-based decision framework with Bayesian hierarchical drift-diffusion modeling to investigate prosocial decision-making in a sample of younger (n = 63) and older adults (n = 48). We observed differences in how older and younger individuals incorporate information corresponding to potential gains for themselves (self) and another person (other) to reach a (potentially prosocial) decision. Younger adults integrated values for benefits for themselves and others in the decision-making process and demonstrated increased decision-making efficiency by effectively integrating both sources of information. In contrast, older adults showed improved decision-making efficiency when solely considering values for self and others separately. Interestingly, individual differences in the capacity of inhibitory control in older adults moderated the observed age effects: older adults with stronger inhibitory control abilities made decisions based on the integrated information of benefits for themselves and others. Together, these findings offer new insights into the behavioral and computational mechanisms influencing age effects in prosocial decision-making.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96656-6Prosocial behaviorCognitive functioningInhibitory controlAdult lifespanDrift-diffusion modeling |
| spellingShingle | Lena Pollerhoff Anne Saulin Marcel Kurtz Julia Stietz Xue-Rui Peng Grit Hein Anita Tusche Philipp Kanske Shu-Chen Li Andrea M.F. Reiter Adult age differences in the integration of values for self and other Scientific Reports Prosocial behavior Cognitive functioning Inhibitory control Adult lifespan Drift-diffusion modeling |
| title | Adult age differences in the integration of values for self and other |
| title_full | Adult age differences in the integration of values for self and other |
| title_fullStr | Adult age differences in the integration of values for self and other |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adult age differences in the integration of values for self and other |
| title_short | Adult age differences in the integration of values for self and other |
| title_sort | adult age differences in the integration of values for self and other |
| topic | Prosocial behavior Cognitive functioning Inhibitory control Adult lifespan Drift-diffusion modeling |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96656-6 |
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