Mahalia Prater Fahey

Neurocomputational mechanisms underlying the distinct motivational influences of reward and punishment on cognitive control

This study identifies distinct neural regions associated with reward and punishment influences on cognitive control using fMRI and a multi-incentive task, revealing how these incentives shape control strategies and mental effort.

Motivational context determines the impact of aversive outcomes on mental effort allocation

The paper shows that aversive outcomes influence mental effort allocation based on motivational context, with participants adjusting caution or efficiency depending on whether the outcome is punishment or reinforcement.

Learning when effort matters: Neural dynamics underlying updating and adaptation to changes in performance efficacy

This study investigates how people update their beliefs about performance efficacy and adjust cognitive control based on these beliefs using computational modeling and EEG.