Effects of effort sequence and type of consequence in an effort discounting task

Abstract

Effort discounting refers to the decrease in the subjective value of a reward as the required effort to obtain it increases. This study examined the effects of effort sequence and consequence type on effort discounting in human participants. In Experiment 1, all participants completed an effort-based task—pedaling a stationary bicycle—with potentially real consequences, under both increasing and decreasing effort sequences. Shallower effort discounting and more nonsystematic data were observed in the decreasing sequence condition. In Experiment 2, participants experienced increasing, decreasing, and random effort sequences as well as hypothetical and potentially real consequences. Participants exhibited steeper effort discounting under potentially real consequences, but there was no effect of the sequence of effort presentation. We discuss the importance of assessing nonsystematic data points for conclusions regarding the effects of other variables. Additionally, we discuss the results in relation to prior studies on delay and effort discounting, particularly concerning the role of consequence type.