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Abstract:
In uncertain decision situations, where the relationship between actions and rewards/outcomes is rather probabilistic than precisely computable,
statistical learning might play an important role. We investigated the relationship between implicit statistical learning (measured by the Alternating
Serial Reaction Time Task, ASRT) and decision making under risk/uncertainty (assessed by the Balloon Analogue Risk Task, BART) between 10
and 24 years of age. Uncertainty in the BART elicited a risk-averse pattern, resulting generally in suboptimal performance – but this depended on
statistical learning performance. We found a moderate positive correlation between the learning performance in the ASRT task and the risk taking
propensity in the BART, irrespectively of age. We therefore suggest that implicit statistical learning facilitates more optimal decisions under
uncertainty.
