Nanne Kukkonen

About

As an experimental psychologist I have recorded indices of human behavior and biological processes that can in turn be learned from by fitting them with statistical models. I have found the challenge of measuring, interpreting, and predicting psychological phenomena captivating, as data brings the underlying theory to life.

My research has focused on how and why humans exert mental effort. In general, humans tend to exert more effort when it is worth it, that is, when the reward outweighs the behavioral cost. Our research shows that this isn't always the case – dynamic adjustments of effort might only come about when the reward pertains to multiple shots at a task, rather than a one-off attempt. Additionally, our research ranges from pro-environmental effort to the ways in which the brain supports dynamic effort exertion based on current demands and rewards.

Effort research

How does our ability to predict the costs and benefits of effort influence the way we adapt our effort levels? When are people more likely to exert effort for the environment rather than for other outcomes? Click here for a list of articles answering these questions and more.