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Updated: Sep 5, 2025

Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods
Published on: September 19, 2012
Gaze-dependent evidence accumulation predicts multi-alternative risky choice behaviour.
Felix Molter1,2,3, Armin W Thomas2,4,5, Scott A Huettel6,7
1School of Business & Economics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Gaze allocation influences choices, with longer fixation increasing selection probability. A gaze-dependent evidence accumulation model accurately predicts complex decision-making, incorporating value discounting for unfixed alternatives.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience
- Decision science
Background:
- Gaze allocation during deliberation influences choice probability.
- Gaze-dependent evidence accumulation models explain simple decision scenarios.
- Complex choice patterns, like attraction and compromise effects, require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if gaze-dependent evidence accumulation predicts complex context-dependent choices.
- To model choices and eye movements in a three-alternative risky choice task.
- To evaluate gaze-dependence and other mechanisms in decision-making.
Main Methods:
- A three-alternative risky choice task was used.
- Choices and eye movements were recorded.
- A gaze-dependent evidence accumulation model was applied and compared against a large model space.
Main Results:
- Choices were best described by a gaze-dependent evidence accumulation model.
- Subjective values were discounted when alternatives were not fixated.
- Strong attraction effects were associated with an additional similarity-dependent inhibition mechanism.
Conclusions:
- Gaze-dependent evidence accumulation is a key mechanism in complex choices.
- Value discounting based on fixation is crucial.
- Additional mechanisms, like similarity-dependent inhibition, are employed in specific contexts.
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