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    Gravity modulates behaviour control strategy

    Gallagher, M. and Arshad, I. and Ferrè, Elisa Raffaella (2019) Gravity modulates behaviour control strategy. Experimental Brain Research 237 (4), pp. 989-994. ISSN 0014-4819.

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    Abstract

    Human behaviour is a trade-off between exploitation of familiar resources and exploration of new ones. In a challenging environment—such as outer space—making the correct decision is vital. On Earth, gravity is always there, and is an important reference for behaviour. Thus, altered gravitational signals may affect behaviour control strategies. Here, we investigated whether changing the body’s orientation to the gravitational vector would modulate the balance between routine and novel behaviour. Participants completed a random number generation task while upright or supine. We found decreased randomness when participants were supine. In particular, the degree of equiprobability of pairs of consecutive responses was reduced in the supine orientation. Online gravitational signals may shape the balance between exploitation and exploration, in favour of more stereotyped and routine responses.

    Metadata

    Item Type: Article
    Keyword(s) / Subject(s): Gravity, Vestibular system, Exploration, Exploitation, Cognition, Behaviour control
    School: Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science > School of Psychological Sciences
    Depositing User: Elisa Raffaella Ferre
    Date Deposited: 22 Sep 2021 10:23
    Last Modified: 02 Aug 2023 18:12
    URI: https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/45539

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