Early versus late noise differentially enhances or degrades context-dependent choice.

ABSTRACT: Noise is a fundamental problem for information processing in neural systems. In decision-making, noise is thought to cause stochastic errors in choice. However, little is known about how noise arising from different sources may contribute differently to value coding and choice behaviors. Here, we examine how noise arising early versus late in the decision process differentially impacts context-dependent choice behavior. We find in model simulations that under early noise, contextual information enhances choice accuracy, while under late noise, context degrades choice accuracy. Furthermore, we verify these opposing predictions in experimental human choice behavior. Manipulating early and late noise - by inducing uncertainty in option values and controlling time pressure - produces dissociab

SUBMITTER: Shen B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12018943 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature