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Recruitment of intuitive versus analytic thinking strategies affects the role of working memory in a gambling task

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Abstract

Previous studies found mixed results concerning the role of working memory (WM) in the gambling task (GT). Here, we aimed at reconciling inconsistencies by showing that the standard version of the task can be solved using intuitive strategies operating automatically, while more complex versions require analytic strategies drawing on executive functions. In Study 1, where good performance on the GT could be achieved using intuitive strategies, participants performed well both with and without a concurrent WM load. In Study 2, where analytical strategies were required to solve a more complex version of the GT, participants without WM load performed well, while participants with WM load performed poorly. In Study 3, where the complexity of the GT was further increased, participants in both conditions performed poorly. In addition to the standard performance measure, we used participants’ subjective expected utility, showing that it differs from the standard measure in some important aspects.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Germano Rossi for his statistical help, and Simona Salomone, Giulia Mattavelli and Selenia Di Bari for their help in collecting the data. This study was supported by two FAR grants to PC and CP and by a PRIN 2005 grant to CP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy

    Marta Gozzi, Paolo Cherubini, Costanza Papagno & Emanuela Bricolo

  2. Pediatrics and Developmental Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, MSC 1255, Building 10, Room 4N208, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1255, USA

    Marta Gozzi

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  1. Marta Gozzi
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Correspondence to Marta Gozzi.

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Gozzi, M., Cherubini, P., Papagno, C. et al. Recruitment of intuitive versus analytic thinking strategies affects the role of working memory in a gambling task. Psychological Research 75, 188–201 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-010-0296-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-010-0296-1

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