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Heuristics in risky decision-making relate to preferential representation of information

Author

Listed:
  • Evan M. Russek

    (Queen Square Institute of Neurology
    University College London, Queen Square Institute of Neurology
    Princeton University)

  • Rani Moran

    (Queen Square Institute of Neurology
    University College London, Queen Square Institute of Neurology
    Queen Mary University of London)

  • Yunzhe Liu

    (Beijing Normal University
    Chinese Institute for Brain Research)

  • Raymond J. Dolan

    (Queen Square Institute of Neurology
    University College London, Queen Square Institute of Neurology)

  • Quentin J. M. Huys

    (Queen Square Institute of Neurology
    University College London, Queen Square Institute of Neurology
    Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust
    University College London)

Abstract

When making choices, individuals differ from one another, as well as from normativity, in how they weigh different types of information. One explanation for this relates to idiosyncratic preferences in what information individuals represent when evaluating choice options. Here, we test this explanation with a simple risky-decision making task, combined with magnetoencephalography (MEG). We examine the relationship between individual differences in behavioral markers of information weighting and neural representation of stimuli pertinent to incorporating that information. We find that the extent to which individuals (N = 19) behaviorally weight probability versus reward information is related to how preferentially they neurally represent stimuli most informative for making probability and reward comparisons. These results are further validated in an additional behavioral experiment (N = 88) that measures stimulus representation as the latency of perceptual detection following priming. Overall, the results suggest that differences in the information individuals consider during choice relate to their risk-taking tendencies.

Suggested Citation

  • Evan M. Russek & Rani Moran & Yunzhe Liu & Raymond J. Dolan & Quentin J. M. Huys, 2024. "Heuristics in risky decision-making relate to preferential representation of information," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-48547-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48547-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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