Modeling information demand in the framework of probabilistic reasoning.

ABSTRACT: Deciding whether, when, and which information to sample is critical for making effective decisions, yet the cognitive mechanisms of this process are not well understood. Here, we propose that key aspects of human information demand are explained by non-linear subjective perceptions of probabilistic losses or gains. Using behavioral testing and quantitative model comparisons across three independent participant samples (N = 50, 50, and 150), we show that a model that incorporates non-linear probability and value perception outperforms a model based on a linear mixture of motives in explaining instrumental and non-instrumental information demand. Moreover, individual non-linearities that best explained information demand were correlated with personality traits and with non-linearities explai

SUBMITTER: Jiwa MW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12913900 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature