The Effect Of Ego Depletion On Category Learning

According to the strength model of self-control,self-control refers to the limited capacity.The model proposes that the initial exertion of self-control consumes the limited resources,which reduce the performance of subsequent tasks involving self-control.We call this effect self-depletion or ego depletion.Previous research found self-depletion not only linked with maladaptive behaviors,but also can temporarily reduce the capacity for executive functioning and cognitive task.Category learning is one of the most important aspects of cognitive psychology.COVIS suggests that there are at least two distinct types of category learning systems: an explicit,hypothesis-testing system and an implicit,procedural learning system.The rule-based category learning based on the explicit,hypothesis-testing system and it depends on working memory and executive attention.Considerable research has suggested that many cognitive and environmental factors can have a differential effect on the learning of rule-defined(RD task)categories as opposed to the learning of non-rule-defined(II task)categories.The present study take two experiments to examine whether temporarily reducing participants' executive functioning via a resource depletion manipulation would differentially impact RD and II task category learning.Firstly,participants were asked to complete an e-crossing task(experiment 1),or stroop task(experiment 2)to manipulate the level of ego-depletion.Participants then were asked to learn either a set of RD categories or a set of II task categories.Resource depleted participants performed more poorly than controls on the RD task,but did not differ from controls on the II task,suggesting that selfcontrol resources are required for successful RD category learning.Finally,we analyze ERPs data(experiment 2)to explore the mechanism of ego depletion on category learning.The results show that a stimulus-locked P200 associated and a feed back-locked ERN correlated with only in the RB,but not II task.These results lend support to multiple systems theories and clarify the role of self-regulatory resources within this theory.