The behavioral economics of choice and interval timing.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
The authors propose a simple behavioral economic model (BEM) describing how reinforcement and interval timing interact. The model assumes a Weber-law-compliant logarithmic representation of time. Associated with each represented time value are the payoffs that have been obtained for each possible response. At a given real time, the response with the highest payoff is emitted. The model accounts for a wide range of data from procedures such as simple bisection, metacognition in animals, economic effects in free-operant psychophysical procedures, and paradoxical choice in double-bisection procedures. Although it assumes logarithmic time representation, it can also account for data from the time-left procedure usually cited in support of linear time representation. It encounters some difficulties in complex free-operant choice procedures, such as concurrent mixed fixed-interval schedules as well as some of the data on double bisection, which may involve additional processes. Overall, BEM provides a theoretical framework for understanding how reinforcement and interval timing work together to determine choice between temporally differentiated reinforcers.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Jozefowiez, J; Staddon, JER; Cerutti, DT
Published Date
- July 2009
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 116 / 3
Start / End Page
- 519 - 539
PubMed ID
- 19618985
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC2743419
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1939-1471
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0033-295X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1037/a0016171
Language
- eng