New Study Explores How Our Brains Choose Rewards Over Habits
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have found that our brains tend to favor rewards over habits. Using a new method called the “multiple cue paradigm,” this study shows that when faced with several tasks, our brains focus on those that offer the biggest rewards. This discovery helps explain how we make decisions in a world filled with distractions.
A recent study from the University of Copenhagen challenges the popular notion that digital technology “steals” our attention. Instead, the research suggests that our brains are naturally wired to prioritize actions offering the highest rewards, even if they conflict with established habits. This discovery sheds light on why technology, particularly digital devices, is so engaging. The study, also discussed in Neuroscience News, was conducted by Thor Grünbaum and Søren Kyllingsbæk, who are part of the Cognition, Intention, and Action research team.
How the Study Was Conducted
The researchers conducted a series of experiments in which participants had to shift their attention between different tasks presented on a computer screen. Each task was associated with a potential reward, represented by points. Despite previous training to associate certain actions with specific tasks (forming habits), participants overwhelmingly chose the task offering the highest reward, even if it contradicted their learned behavior. These attention shifts were repeated thousands of times to ensure accuracy.
Participants took part in a computer task where several boxes appeared on the screen, each linked to different rewards. These rewards ranged from one to nine points. The participants had to focus on a box, report a letter related to it, and then receive the points based on their choice. The experiment allowed the researchers to see how participants balanced their attention between habitual responses and high-reward tasks
Grünbaum emphasized the significance of this approach, saying it helps us better understand how attention works in complicated situations. He stated, “Real-world situations often present multiple demands. This study shows how rewards strongly influence which task we focus on.”
Introducing the Multiple Cue Paradigm: A New Way to Understand Focus
This study is different from the traditional Posner cuing paradigm, which has been a key method in attention research. In earlier models, a single cue pointed to one specific location, making it easier for participants to focus on one task at a time. While this was useful in controlled settings, it doesn’t accurately reflect how our brains deal with everyday distractions.
The multiple cue paradigm developed by the research team offers a more realistic way to test how our attention shifts in competitive conditions. In today’s digital world, we are constantly faced with stimuli, like notifications on our phones or pop-ups on social media. This study found that our brains often choose tasks with the highest rewards, even if they conflict with established habits.
Søren Kyllingsbæk added, “This research helps us understand how technology and digital platforms, designed to capture attention, exploit our brain’s preference for rewards.”
Shifting Perspectives: How This Study Challenges Established Theories
While previous studies on attention focused on how distractions from technology affect focus, this research takes a different approach. It looks at how our brains make decisions based on rewards rather than assuming tech simply hijacks our attention. The study introduces the idea that digital devices don’t force us to lose focus—they appeal to our brain’s built-in desire to seek immediate, valuable rewards. This concept shifts the focus from blaming technology to understanding our reward-driven nature.
5 Key Insights That Redefine How We Understand Focus
The study uncovered five major findings:
- Reward-driven decisions are stronger than habits: When participants were presented with several tasks, they consistently chose the option with the highest reward, even if they had spent time learning and practicing a different task. This finding shows that, despite forming habits, our brains are wired to prioritize immediate gains.
- Technology taps into our natural reward-seeking behavior: Digital platforms don’t force us to pay attention, but they do leverage our tendency to seek out rewards. Whether it’s checking a phone notification or clicking on a social media post, we’re often drawn to the most rewarding option available at the moment.
- Habits can be overridden by rewards: Contrary to the belief that habits are hard to break, the study demonstrated that when people have to choose quickly between competing actions, they often abandon habitual behavior if another option seems more rewarding. This reveals that habits are not as automatic as we may think.
- Attention is guided by perceived value: Our brains constantly calculate the value of different actions, and the task that appears most rewarding wins our attention. This explains why we often find it hard to resist certain digital distractions—our brains view them as high-value actions.
These findings help clarify how attention works in the digital age, showing that our tendency to prioritize rewards explains why technology can be so compelling. Understanding this could help people manage their focus better, rather than blaming the technology itself.
Implications for Modern Life: What This Study Means for Technology and Health
The results of this study have important implications for understanding attention in our modern lives. Our brains naturally gravitate toward high-reward tasks, which can sometimes make it difficult to concentrate on long-term goals. The constant notifications and feedback from various platforms can easily capture our attention, leading us to prioritize immediate rewards over sustained efforts.
These insights can be particularly valuable in addressing attention disorders like ADHD, where individuals often struggle to focus on tasks that do not provide instant gratification. Therapists may utilize these findings to develop new strategies that help patients remain focused on long-term objectives, even when more enticing options are available.
Ultimately, this research highlights the significance of understanding our reward-seeking tendencies in managing attention effectively. By harnessing technology for positive purposes, we can create environments that support sustained focus and help us achieve our long-term aspirations, rather than simply being swayed by immediate distractions.
How Understanding Reward Systems Can Help Boost Attention and Well-Being
The groundbreaking study from the University of Copenhagen provides new insights into how our brains prioritize tasks. By showing that rewards often take precedence over habits, the research offers a realistic understanding of attention in a world full of distractions. As we become more aware of how modern technology plays on our brain’s reward system, these findings could help individuals regain control over their attention. This, in turn, may lead to improved focused attention, mental health, and overall well-being.
In light of this study’s findings, it becomes clear that technology, especially when designed thoughtfully, can be used to our benefit. For example, CogniFit offers science-based brain training programs that can help improve attention and other basic cognitive abilities. These programs leverage the brain’s intrinsic motivation to focus on tasks that provide satisfaction or positive outcomes. In this context, rewards can take many forms, such as immediate feedback, a sense of accomplishment, or progress tracking. Such trainings can help users strengthen key cognitive skills and develop healthier digital habits. This approach shows that with the right tools, technology can support our mental wellbeing and brain health.
