Revealing human sensitivity to a latent temporal structure of changes

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Science
• Computational Neuroscience
• Decision Theory

Background:

• Accurate time perception and precisely timed behavior are crucial for survival and well-being.
• The impact of environmental temporal structure representation on human decision-making remains poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how the representation of temporal structure influences decision-making.
• To explore the relationship between beliefs about temporal structure and behavioral choices.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a dynamic probabilistic learning task.
• Employed computational modeling and model-based analysis.
• Proposed a normative model based on semi-Markov formalism within the active inference framework.

Main Results:

• Human subjects' beliefs about temporal structure were reflected in their choices between exploiting current knowledge and exploring new options.
• Significant within-group and within-subject heterogeneity was observed in decision-making strategies.
• The proposed normative model provides a framework for understanding these decision-making patterns.

Conclusions:

• Temporal structure representation significantly impacts decision-making by guiding exploration-exploitation trade-offs.
• The findings highlight individual differences in how temporal information is utilized.
• The developed framework has potential applications in cognitive phenotyping and computational psychiatry.