Decisions beyond boundaries: when more information is processed faster than less.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Decision Science
• Computational Neuroscience

Background:

• Bounded rationality models typically link decision time to computational steps.
• Empirical evidence for this positive correlation between decision time and information amount is inconsistent.
• Existing models often overlook the role of information coherence in decision-making processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between information amount, coherence, and decision time.
• To test the hypothesis that increased information can decrease decision time under specific conditions.
• To explore alternative factors influencing decision speed beyond mere information quantity.

Main Methods:

• Experimental manipulation of information amount and coherence during decision tasks.
• Measurement of decision time and computational steps.
• Comparison of results with predictions from bounded rationality models.

Main Results:

• Increased information amount can decrease decision time when it enhances information set coherence.
• Decision time systematically increased as information coherence decreased, irrespective of information amount.
• Findings contradict the simple positive correlation between information quantity and decision time.

Conclusions:

• Information coherence is a critical factor influencing decision time, potentially more so than information amount.
• Decision-making may rely on holistic information integration processes, as suggested by parallel constraint satisfaction models.
• Revising bounded rationality models to incorporate information coherence is necessary for a more accurate understanding of decision processes.