Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English en
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Identification and change of passive value markers in the laboratory and naturalistic environments

Project description

How we value what we see

How do we assess the worth of the objects we encounter? While most theories suggest that assigning value requires deliberate initiation, the concept known as the ‘mere exposure effect’ demonstrates that valuation might actually be a passive, involuntary occurrence. In this context, the MSCA-funded PassiveValueMarkers project aims to establish a novel framework for identifying biomarkers that indicate the value of individual items without requiring intentional elicitation. The project will leverage methodologies like neuroimaging, gaze-tracking analysis, computational modelling, and virtual reality, to bridge a critical gap in our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for determining the value of individual items in the brain without active initiation or prompting.

Objective

When you look at a given object - are you calculating its value even if not prompted to doWhen you look at a given object - are you calculating its value even if not prompted to do so? Most theories of valuation claim that choice, prompt or in general elicitation are needed to induce valuation. However, the well-known mere exposure effect dating back to 1968, suggests that merely viewing an item can induce valuation and even enhance value. In this proposal I aim to demonstrate that valuation is an early and automatic process relying on visual, attentional and motor systems. PassiveValueMarkers offers a novel framework to identify biomarkers of value of individual items passively, without elicitation. The aims of PassiveValueMarkers are: 1) Identifying behavioural and neural passive markers for individual items using computational modelling in and influencing these markers ; 2) Detecting passive markers of value in gaze pattern analysis behaviourally and in the brain using fMRI; 3) Considering the gap that exists between laboratory studies and the real world, I will identify passive value markers in naturalistic virtual reality environments. The overreaching aim of this proposal is to develop a new theoretical framework on individual passive value construction and change. To do so, I will use a unique combination of neuroimaging, computational modelling, gaze-tracking analysis and virtual reality. This research will directly address an understudied area of how value for individual items is formed by the brain without active prompt or elicitation. Uncovering the mechanisms of passive value representation at the single item level and individualized per participant, will allow to design closed loop manipulations at the item level. This approach will serve as the basis for developing novel evidence-based methods for enhanced preference modification in healthy participants and in disorders with abnormal valuation such as addictions, mental illness, and eating disorders.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

This project has not yet been classified with EuroSciVoc.
Be the first one to suggest relevant scientific fields and help us improve our classification service

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

(opens in new window) ERC-2022-COG

See all projects funded under this call

Host institution

TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY
Net EU contribution
€ 2 000 000,00
Total cost
€ 2 000 000,00

Beneficiaries (1)