TY - JOUR TI - Metacontrol of decision-making strategies in human aging AU - Bolenz, Florian AU - Kool, Wouter AU - Reiter, Andrea MF AU - Eppinger, Ben A2 - Büchel, Christian A2 - Kahnt, Thorsten A2 - Samanez-Larkin, Greg VL - 8 PY - 2019 DA - 2019/08/09 SP - e49154 C1 - eLife 2019;8:e49154 DO - 10.7554/eLife.49154 UR - https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.49154 AB - Humans employ different strategies when making decisions. Previous research has reported reduced reliance on model-based strategies with aging, but it remains unclear whether this is due to cognitive or motivational factors. Moreover, it is not clear how aging affects the metacontrol of decision making, that is the dynamic adaptation of decision-making strategies to varying situational demands. In this cross-sectional study, we tested younger and older adults in a sequential decision-making task that dissociates model-free and model-based strategies. In contrast to previous research, model-based strategies led to higher payoffs. Moreover, we manipulated the costs and benefits of model-based strategies by varying reward magnitude and the stability of the task structure. Compared to younger adults, older adults showed reduced model-based decision making and less adaptation of decision-making strategies. Our findings suggest that aging affects the metacontrol of decision-making strategies and that reduced model-based strategies in older adults are due to limited cognitive abilities. KW - decision making KW - reinforcement learning KW - model-based KW - model-free KW - lifespan development KW - reward JF - eLife SN - 2050-084X PB - eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd ER -