The relationship between response dynamics and the formation of confidence varies across the lifespan

Accurate metacognitive judgments, such as forming a confidence judgment, are crucial for goal-directed behavior but decline with older age. Besides changes in the sensory processing of stimulus features, there might also be changes in the motoric aspects of giving responses that account for age-related changes in confidence. In order to assess the association between confidence and response parameters across the adult lifespan, we measured response times and peak forces in a four-choice flanker task with subsequent confidence judgments.

The relationship between response dynamics and the formation of confidence varies across the lifespan
(A) Trial structure (here, incongruent condition illustrated). (B) Force-sensitive response keys. Left and right index and middle fingers (red circles) were placed on adjustable finger rests.

In 65 healthy adults from 20 to 76 years of age, we showed divergent associations of each measure with confidence, depending on decision accuracy. Participants indicated higher confidence after faster responses in correct but not incorrect trials. They also indicated higher confidence after less forceful responses in errors but not in correct trials. Notably, these associations were age-dependent as the relationship between confidence and response time was more pronounced in older participants, while the relationship between confidence and response force decayed with age.

The relationship between response dynamics and the formation of confidence varies across the lifespan
Interaction plots including the predictors of the models predicting confidence best for errors and correct responses. (A) Regression of age on confidence in correct trials with the moderator RT. (B) Regression of age on confidence in error trials with the moderator PF. Regressions are shown for the moderator fixed on the mean (dashed line) and one standard deviation above (solid line) and below (dotted line) the mean. Blue shaded areas indicate confidence intervals, and gray shaded areas indicate the age range in which a significant effect of RT (in correct trials) or PF (in error trials) on confidence is observed, resulting in the significant interaction effect.

Our results add to the notion that confidence is related to response parameters and demonstrate noteworthy changes in the observed associations across the adult lifespan. These changes potentially constitute an expression of general age-related deficits in performance monitoring or, alternatively, index a failing mechanism in the computation of confidence in older adults.

Publication:

Overhoff, H., Ko, Y. H., Fink, G. R., Stahl, J., Weiss, P. H., Bode, S., & Niessen, E. (2022). The relationship between response dynamics and the formation of confidence varies across the lifespan. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 14, 969074. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.969074

Letzte Änderung: 09.01.2023