Age Differences in Reward Discounting in an Effortful 3D Game

In this study, we investigated how spatial, temporal, and effort dimensions collectively influence reward discounting across different age groups. Using a 3D simulated environment, participants aged 7 to 77 chose between a nearby tree with fewer apples and a distant tree with more apples, requiring more time and effort to reach. Our findings revealed that participants initially preferred the distant tree with more apples, but as the difference in rewards decreased, they became increasingly more likely to choose the closer, less effortful option. This shift suggests a gradual re-evaluation of effort versus reward as the perceived value difference diminishes. Contrary to our hypothesis, younger participants were less likely to discount effortful rewards compared to middle-aged and older adults. These results underscore the complexity of decision-making across different dimensions and age groups, highlighting the need for more ecologically valid research in understanding how humans make trade-offs in naturalistic scenarios.