chen_2018_agedependent

risky-choice psych-201

In an app-based motor decision-making task (exp0, N=26532 across six age bands), each trial presents a gamble of playing (tap 5 targets along a path) for a stake worth -100 to +100 points versus skipping for a small guaranteed gain/loss; 42 trials per participant vary reward/punishment magnitude, target-size difficulty (7 levels), and random sine-curve paths, and record the skip/gamble choice, success/failure outcome, RT, and touch coordinates along with gender/education/device/screen-size covariates. A control estimation study (exp1, N=120) validates perceived success probability with trial-level motor-outcome and self-reported probability ratings. The paper fits Approach-Avoidance and Prospect Theory computational models to choices across age groups to explain age-dependent Pavlovian attraction toward reward.

Responses
1,114,344
4,200 held out
CORE effects
1 / 1
CORE test NLL (avg)
0.397
rank 4 of 7 models
Best model
CORE (no prediction errors)
test NLL (avg) 0.396

Likelihood of human responses

modelPNLLtest NLL (avg)test responses train NLL (avg)train responses
CORE1,665.10.39654,2000.38151,110,144
CORE (no prediction errors) best1,662.50.39584,2000.38201,110,144
CORE (no phonemes)1,664.70.39644,2000.38001,110,144
CORE (no forgetting)1,665.00.39644,2000.38351,110,144
CORE (no hierarchy)1,777.00.42314,2000.41501,110,144
Transformer1,722.30.41014,2000.39531,110,144
Centaur1,873.70.44614,200––

Experiments

exptask classparticipantsresponsesconditionssimulatedeffects
exp0MotorGambleTask26,5321,114,3446yesreward_approach_bias

Behavioral effects

effectexperimentpaperCORECORE (no prediction errors)CORE (no phonemes)CORE (no forgetting)CORE (no hierarchy)
reward_approach_biasexp0+0.104✓ yes
+0.107
✓ yes
+0.101
✓ yes
+0.119
✓ yes
+0.122
✓ yes
+0.080

Transcript

Welcome to the motor gamble game. Your goal is to accumulate as many points as possible; you begin with 250 points. In each trial you see a path of 5 targets and a stake for that trial. Target difficulty runs from level 1 (largest, easiest target) to level 7 (smallest, hardest target). On a reward trial, skipping gives you +10 points; gambling means tapping all 5 targets from bottom to top within 1.2 seconds to win a bigger prize (+20, +60, or +100 points), or 0 points if you fail. On a punishment trial, skipping costs you -10 points; gambling avoids the punishment (0 points) if you succeed but you lose a bigger amount (-20, -60, or -100) if you fail. If you gamble, tap the 5 targets in order, from bottom to top, as quickly and accurately as you can. On each trial press A to skip the trial or B to take the gamble.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +20 or 0. Target difficulty level 2 (radius 118 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain +20 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -20. Target difficulty level 3 (radius 108 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +20 or 0. Target difficulty level 3 (radius 108 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain +20 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +100 or 0. Target difficulty level 3 (radius 108 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain +100 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -60. Target difficulty level 2 (radius 118 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +60 or 0. Target difficulty level 2 (radius 118 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain +60 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +100 or 0. Target difficulty level 1 (radius 128 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain +100 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -100. Target difficulty level 2 (radius 118 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +20 or 0. Target difficulty level 1 (radius 128 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain +20 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -20. Target difficulty level 2 (radius 118 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +60 or 0. Target difficulty level 3 (radius 108 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain +60 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -100. Target difficulty level 1 (radius 128 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -60. Target difficulty level 1 (radius 128 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +100 or 0. Target difficulty level 2 (radius 118 px). You press B to take the gamble. You fail to tap all 5 targets in time and the ball sails past the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +60 or 0. Target difficulty level 1 (radius 128 px). You press B to take the gamble. You fail to tap all 5 targets in time and the ball sails past the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -20. Target difficulty level 1 (radius 128 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -60. Target difficulty level 3 (radius 108 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -100. Target difficulty level 3 (radius 108 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -100. Target difficulty level 5 (radius 88 px). You press B to take the gamble. You fail to tap all 5 targets in time and the ball sails past the coconut. You lose 100 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +100 or 0. Target difficulty level 4 (radius 98 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain +100 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -60. Target difficulty level 5 (radius 88 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +60 or 0. Target difficulty level 6 (radius 78 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain +60 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -20. Target difficulty level 4 (radius 98 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +20 or 0. Target difficulty level 6 (radius 78 px). You press B to take the gamble. You fail to tap all 5 targets in time and the ball sails past the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +20 or 0. Target difficulty level 4 (radius 98 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain +20 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -20. Target difficulty level 5 (radius 88 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +100 or 0. Target difficulty level 6 (radius 78 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain +100 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -60. Target difficulty level 6 (radius 78 px). You press B to take the gamble. You fail to tap all 5 targets in time and the ball sails past the coconut. You lose 60 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -60. Target difficulty level 4 (radius 98 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +100 or 0. Target difficulty level 5 (radius 88 px). You press B to take the gamble. You fail to tap all 5 targets in time and the ball sails past the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +60 or 0. Target difficulty level 5 (radius 88 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain +60 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -100. Target difficulty level 4 (radius 98 px). You press A to skip the trial. You skip the trial. You lose 10 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +60 or 0. Target difficulty level 4 (radius 98 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain +60 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +20 or 0. Target difficulty level 5 (radius 88 px). You press A to skip the trial. You skip the trial. You gain +10 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -20. Target difficulty level 6 (radius 78 px). You press A to skip the trial. You skip the trial. You lose 10 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -100. Target difficulty level 6 (radius 78 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +20 or 0. Target difficulty level 7 (radius 68 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain +20 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +60 or 0. Target difficulty level 7 (radius 68 px). You press B to take the gamble. You fail to tap all 5 targets in time and the ball sails past the coconut. You gain 0 points.
Reward trial: skip +10, gamble +100 or 0. Target difficulty level 7 (radius 68 px). You press B to take the gamble. You tap all 5 targets in time and hit the coconut. You gain +100 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -20. Target difficulty level 7 (radius 68 px). You press B to take the gamble. You fail to tap all 5 targets in time and the ball sails past the coconut. You lose 20 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -60. Target difficulty level 7 (radius 68 px). You press B to take the gamble. You fail to tap all 5 targets in time and the ball sails past the coconut. You lose 60 points.
Punishment trial: skip -10, gamble 0 or -100. Target difficulty level 7 (radius 68 px). You press B to take the gamble. You fail to tap all 5 targets in time and the ball sails past the coconut. You lose 100 points.