Cognitive load and prefrontal neuromodulation shape exploration, risk-taking, and information seeking in experience-based decision making
- 1Applied Cognitive Science Laboratory, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Mandi, India
- 2Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
Abstract
Experience-based decision making requires individuals to balance exploration and exploitation under uncertainty, a balance that may be influenced by cognitive demands and prefrontal neuromodulation. We examined the joint effects of trivia-based cognitive load and anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in 60 healthy adults. The primary 2 × 2 between-subjects design crossed Stimulation (anodal tDCS vs sham) with Cognitive-Load Condition (Trivia-Based Load vs No-Trivia Control). Within the Trivia-Based Load subgroup, Lower-Load and Higher-Load Trivia were presented across trials for a secondary trial-level analysis. Participants completed 50 decisions involving a safe choice, a probabilistic high-reward choice, and a costly information-seeking choice. Primary analyses showed that Trivia-Based Load slowed responses and reduced risky choice. Anodal tDCS increased risky choice, information seeking, and alternation between choice types, but did not significantly affect reaction time. Stimulation × Cognitive-Load Condition interactions were significant for information seeking and alternation, reflecting different load-related patterns under anodal tDCS and sham, whereas interactions were not significant for reaction time or risky choice. Secondary analyses indicated longer decision times following Higher-Load than Lower-Load Trivia, without corresponding trial-level load effects on the choice outcomes. These findings show that cognitive load and anodal DLPFC tDCS have outcome-specific joint effects on experience-based decision making, including both additive and context-dependent patterns.
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BibTeX
@article{singh2026cognitive,
title = {{Cognitive load and prefrontal neuromodulation shape exploration, risk-taking, and information seeking in experience-based decision making}},
author = {Ankit Singh and Varun Dutt and Akash K. Rao},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0360059},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360059},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Cognitive load and prefrontal neuromodulation shape exploration, risk-taking, and information seeking in experience-based decision making
AU - Ankit Singh
AU - Varun Dutt
AU - Akash K. Rao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/09
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0360059
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360059
AB - Experience-based decision making requires individuals to balance exploration and exploitation under uncertainty, a balance that may be influenced by cognitive demands and prefrontal neuromodulation. We examined the joint effects of trivia-based cognitive load and anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in 60 healthy adults. The primary 2 × 2 between-subjects design crossed Stimulation (anodal tDCS vs sham) with Cognitive-Load Condition (Trivia-Based Load vs No-Trivia Control). Within the Trivia-Based Load subgroup, Lower-Load and Higher-Load Trivia were presented across trials for a secondary trial-level analysis. Participants completed 50 decisions involving a safe choice, a probabilistic high-reward choice, and a costly information-seeking choice. Primary analyses showed that Trivia-Based Load slowed responses and reduced risky choice. Anodal tDCS increased risky choice, information seeking, and alternation between choice types, but did not significantly affect reaction time. Stimulation × Cognitive-Load Condition interactions were significant for information seeking and alternation, reflecting different load-related patterns under anodal tDCS and sham, whereas interactions were not significant for reaction time or risky choice. Secondary analyses indicated longer decision times following Higher-Load than Lower-Load Trivia, without corresponding trial-level load effects on the choice outcomes. These findings show that cognitive load and anodal DLPFC tDCS have outcome-specific joint effects on experience-based decision making, including both additive and context-dependent patterns.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -