Economic Science Institute, Chapman University, Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange, CA 92866, USA.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Dec 29;106(52):22145-50. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0912500106. Epub 2009 Dec 22.
We develop a neuronal theory of the choice process (NTCP), which takes a subject from the moment in which two options are presented to the selection of one of the two. The theory is based on an optimal signal detection, which generalizes the signal detection theory by adding the choice of effort as optimal choice for a given informational value of the signal for every effort level and a cost of effort. NTCP predicts the choice made as a stochastic choice: That is, as a probability distribution over two options in a set, the level of effort provided, the error rate, and the time to respond. The theory provides a unified account of behavioral evidence (choices made, error rate, time to respond) as well as neural evidence (represented by the effort rate measured for example by the level of brain activation). The theory also provides a unified explanation of several facts discovered and interpreted in the last decades of experimental economic analysis of choices, which we review.
我们提出了一个神经元选择过程理论（NTCP），该理论可以描述一个主体从接收到两个选项到选择其中一个选项的过程。该理论基于最优信号检测，通过在给定信号信息价值的每个努力水平和努力成本下，将努力选择作为最优选择，对信号检测理论进行了扩展。NTCP 预测了作为随机选择的选择：也就是说，作为一个在给定的选项集合中出现的概率分布，努力水平、错误率和响应时间。该理论提供了对行为证据（所作的选择、错误率、响应时间）和神经证据（例如通过大脑激活水平测量的努力率来表示）的统一解释。该理论还对实验经济学分析选择的过去几十年中发现和解释的几个事实提供了统一的解释，我们对此进行了回顾。
