DDM-UI: A user interface in R for the discrepancy diffuse model in behavioral research

The diffuse discrepancy model (DiffDiscM) has proven to be a valuable tool for simulating both Pavlovian and operant conditioning phenomena. However, its original implementation in Pascal (SelNet1© interface) has limitations regarding accessibility and ease of use. This paper presents DDM-UI, a new user interface developed in R for the DiffDiscM. DDM-UI offers an intuitive, open-source platform that enables researchers to configure, run, and analyze DiffDiscM simulations more efficiently. The main features of DDM-UI are described, including network architecture setup, trial and contingency definition, and result visualization. Three use cases demonstrate the practical application of DDM-UI in simulating various conditioning experiments, including superstition, Pavlovian/autoshaped impulsivity, and complex phenomena such as blocking, compound conditioning, and successive conditioning. The validation process highlights DDM-UI's ability to replicate previous findings while offering enhanced data visualization and analysis capabilities. DDM-UI represents a significant advancement in the accessibility of the DiffDiscM, facilitating its use in behavioral research and promoting reproducibility in the field. The paper also discusses the limitations of the current implementation and suggests future developments to further enhance the tool's capabilities in exploring complex learning and behavioral phenomena.