Twas Ten to One; And Yet We Ventured: P300 and Decision Making

摘要

In some situations subjects' predictions of future events do not accurately reflect the subjective probability associated with these events. We set up a situation by manipulating the payoff structure in a prediction paradigm, and found that P300 provides an index of the processes responsible for subjective probability, or expectancy, not obtainable from overt predictions. Sixteen subjects were required to predict, on each trial, whether a 1, 2 or 3 would appear on a display. The numbers appeared randomly with probabilities .45, .10, and .45, respectively. In one condition subjects were given bonuses according to an all-or-none payoff function in which they received one cent if they predicted correctly, and nothing if they were incorrect. In a second condition bonuses were determined by a linear payoff function in which subjects were paid one cent if they predicted correctly, and one-half cent if they were off by one (e.g. predict 1 and 2 appears). After each condition subjects estimated the actual number of stimuli presented. These estimates were the same for both conditions, although predictions differed radically, with 2 predicted much more frequently in the linear condition. P300 area was largest for the rare event (2), and the relationship between P300 and probability was unaffected by payoffs. Our design did not introduce between conditions in the overall 'riskiness' of predictions, and the strategies adopted by most subjects also resulted in differences in the salience, or task relevance, of the feedback stimuli. These differences resulted in an overall increase in P300 in all-or-none condition. A relationship also emerged between the subjects' strategies and their event related potential. (Author)