Work

Behavioral strategies and pupillary response in a rewarded stop-signal task

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Cognitive control, specifically inhibition, is essential for behavior adaptation to environmental changes. While reward expectation influences cognitive strategies, it is still underexplored how reward may influence inhibitory control and how and whether this may be reflected in autonomic physiological responses. In this study, we explore whether trial-by-trial reward cues modulate both behavioral performance and pupil size, an autonomic correlate of cognitive effort. Twenty-five participants performed a rewarded Stop-Signal Task under three reward conditions: Go Plus (greater reward for correctly performed movements Go trials), Stop Plus (greater reward for correctly inhibited movements Stop trials), and Neutral (equal reward for both trial types). Although inhibitory ability remained unchanged across reward conditions, Go trials' accuracy was higher in Go Plus and Neutral conditions. Reaction times were longer in Go trials in the Stop Plus condition, where inhibition was most rewarded. When task strategies required balancing focus to achieve high rewards in both trial types, pupil size increased, suggesting increased cognitive effort. These findings support the hypothesis that reward expectancy shapes cognitive control and its autonomic correlates.

Source: International Journal of Psychophysiology

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2025.113305

Authors: Valentina Giuffrida, Isabel Beatrice Marc, Stefano Ferraina, Emiliano Brunamonti, Pierpaolo Pani

Institution: Sapienza University of Rome

Language: English

Topic: Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,540

Funder: Sapienza Università di Roma