Project description
Towards a decision-making model that flexibly adjusts its precision
Current research often suggests that our brains use two distinct systems for decision-making: model-free, which is fast but error-prone, and model-based, which is adaptable but cognitively demanding. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PASS-DM project aims to challenge this dichotomy. Instead, it proposes that the brain employs a single decision-making system that adjusts its precision based on cognitive resource investment. This flexibility makes the system appear either model-free or model-based depending on the situation. Success in this project could revolutionise our understanding of decision-making and learning, while failure would reinforce the current dual-system paradigm. The outcome will significantly impact the direction of future research in this crucial field.
Objective
"Much contemporary research on decision-making purports that the brain has two distinct systems which can be used: model-free or model-based. Model-free allows for fast and automatic choices, but with a higher likelihood of errors. Model-based allows for context-specific adaptability, but with greater cognitive computational costs. In contrast to the prominent accounts of model-based vs model-free decision-making, I propose that the brain has a single decision system, which can be tuned to be more or less precise by investing more or less cognitive resources. The degree of precision determines whether the system appears to be more ""model-free"" or more ""model-based"" for any given decision. If successful, this project will play a critical role in redirecting a large sub-field of important decision-making (and learning) research. If unsuccessful, this project will provide powerful evidence that the current paradigm is correct."
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinator
00185 Roma
Italy