A response time model for judging order relationship between two symbolic stimuli

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Computational Neuroscience

Background:

• Response time in symbolic comparison tasks is often modeled by constant-rate accumulation to a threshold.
• Empirical data in number comparisons suggest a more complex accrual process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate a new model for symbolic stimulus comparison based on an exponential accrual rate.
• To demonstrate the model's connection to a quantitative connectionist network.
• To compare model predictions with existing experimental data.

Main Methods:

• Developed an accrual model with an exponential rate reaching a decision threshold.
• Interpreted model equations in terms of a quantitative connectionist network with learned stimuli and adaptable thresholds.
• Compared model predictions against published experimental data from number comparison and induced ordering tasks.

Main Results:

• Empirical data from number comparisons support an exponential accrual rate to the decision threshold.
• The proposed model shows a good correlation with experimental findings.
• The model provides a framework for understanding incorrect responses and comparing different theoretical approaches.

Conclusions:

• Symbolic stimulus comparison can be effectively modeled by an exponential accrual process.
• A quantitative connectionist network provides a viable neural interpretation of this process.
• The model offers a unified framework, aligning with and extending previous comparison models.