Working memory capacity is linked to directed exploration: behavioral, computational, and electrophysiological evidence

High working memory capacity in 26 high-WMC versus 26 low-WMC participants is linked to more directed exploration and reduced exploitation in an adapted Horizon Task.

• Why it matters: Adaptive decision making requires balancing exploitation with sampling uncertain options, but how working memory limits shape strategic, information-seeking exploration is unclear.
• What they did: Participants completed the Horizon Task during EEG; the study combined behavioral strategy classification, hierarchical Bayesian reinforcement learning, stimulus-locked ERPs, and Bayesian mediation to test whether WMC relates to directed exploration via sampling history discounting.
• The result: The reinforcement-learning discounting parameter {omega} was larger in the high-WMC group and mediated the WMC–directed exploration association (ab = 0.64, 95% CrI [0.28, 1.05]); frontocentral P2 (180–280 ms) was larger during directed exploration and its difference correlated with directed-exploration preference (r = .29, p = .040).

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