The behavioral economics of choice and interval timing.

Full Abstract

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. Copyright (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved.

Author information

Author/s: Jozefowiez, J (J); Staddon, J E R (JE); Cerutti, D T (DT);

Affiliation: Instituto de Educação e Psicologia, Universidadedo Minho, Braga, Portugal. jeremie(-atsign-)iep.uminho.pt

Grants: MH 0033881 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; R01 MH033881-28 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Psychological review (Psychol Rev), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jul; vol 116 (issue 3) : pp 519-39

Dates: Created 2009/07/21; Completed 2009/09/28;

PMID: 19618985, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/28/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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