EE Seminar #12: Ollie Hulme – Time-averaging predicts optimality of human risk-taking and striatal reward responses

Maximising expected outcomes – framed as expected utility in behavioural science and expected reward in reinforcement learning – has long dominated models of decision-making. In this seminar, Ollie Hulme (DRCMR) asks if people maximise time averages instead. He will present data showing that time average models better account for both neural and behavioural data in risky choice experiments, with participants operating surprisingly close to the theoretical optimum. Ollie will also discuss arguments for the biological and cognitive plausibility of time averaging as well as its consilience with a diversity of theories in psychology and neuroscience.

This is an online event. We look forward to seeing you there!