Cognition, Behavior, and Memory
Author: Tomas Alves Salgueiro | email: tomasalvessalgueiro@gmail.com
Tomas Alves Salgueiro 1°, Axel Brzostowski 2°, Ayelén Caramés 1°, Pablo Nicolás Fernández Larrosa 1°
1° Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE-UBA-CONICET)
2° Departamento de Computación, FCEN-UBA
Complex Decision-Making (DM) usually involves processes that require a higher level of cognitive engagement, evidenced by a prolonged reflection over time. Previously, we conducted cognitive experiments under the hypothesis that greater exposure to a face (Repetition Priming, RP) would induce its preference in a task-dependent manner (top-down modulation). For this purpose, participants were randomly assigned to 2 experimental groups: 1) choosing a face for an important task (IT), or 2) without any specification (NS). Our previous results showed that IT decision was not susceptible to RP and lasted longer, regarding to NS results, supporting our hypothesis. But do these top-down mechanisms operate early or late in the DM process? To start answering this question, we designed a new experiment in which subjects had to choose with time constraint (TC; 5 or 3 seconds) on some trials and without on others (NC). When choosing in less than 5 seconds, IT group shows no evidence of susceptibility to RP, like in NC condition. However, when participants must choose within 3 seconds, IT group showed to be susceptible to RP (like NS group). If the top-down modulation occurs later, shortening the time available would disrupt this process, and this would be reflected in the results of group IT, showing differences between the two temporal conditions. Conversely, if the top-down mechanism operates earlier, there should be no difference. Our results support the former scenario.