Evidence for an Accumulator Model of Psychophysical Discrimination
Abstract
Recent theoretical approaches to the problem of psychophysical discrimination have produced what may be classified as ‘ statistical decision ’ or ‘ data accumulation ’ models. While the former have received much attention their application to judgment and choice meets with some difficulties. Among the latter, the two types which have received most attention are a ‘ runs ’ and a ‘ recruitment ’ model, but neither seems able to account for all of the relevant data. It is suggested instead that an ‘ accumulator ’ model, in which sampled events may vary in magnitude as well as probability, can be developed to give a good account of much of the available data on psychophysical discrimination. Two experiments are reported, in which the subject presses one of two keys as soon as he has decided whether the longer of two simultaneously presented lines is on the left or right. Results are found to be inconsistent with a runs or recruitment process, but to accord well with predictions from the accumulator model. Other evidence consistent with such a mechanism is briefly reviewed
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Choice confidence emerges from the dynamics of noisy accumulators in the race model, leading to dual effects of difference in value and reaction time on confidence.
“Choice confidence can be seen to emerge from the dynamics of noisy accumulators in the race model7,21, leading to dual effects of difference in value and reaction time on confidence27.”
From Confidence in value-based choice (2013) · cites this paper as [21]
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- Authors
- VICKERS, D.
- Affiliations
- The University of Adelaide (AU)
- Corresponding author
- VICKERS, D.
- Venue
- Ergonomics
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 1970-01
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 37-58
- ISSN
- 0014-0139 (ISSN-L)
- 1366-5847
- OpenAlex
- W2003178747
- Cited by
- 369
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 2.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Ergonomics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- accumulator model, recruitment model, decision-making, reaction time (psychology)
- MeSH terms
- Decision Making, Discrimination, Psychological, Humans, Models, Psychological, Psychophysics
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