Similarity and number of alternatives in the random-dot motion paradigm

van Maanen, Leendert; Grasman, Raoul P. P. P.; Forstmann, Birte U.; Keuken, Max C.; Brown, Scott D.; Wagenmakers, Eric Jan

doi:10.3758/s13414-011-0267-7

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Similarity and number of alternatives in the random-dot motion paradigm

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van Maanen, L., Grasman, R. P. P. P., Forstmann, B. U., Keuken, M. C., Brown, S. D., & Wagenmakers, E. J. (2012). Similarity and number of alternatives in the random-dot motion paradigm. Attention, Perception & Psychophysics, 74(4), 739-753. doi:10.3758/s13414-011-0267-7.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-001M-0000-000E-B7B4-6

Abstract

The popular random-dot motion (RDM) task has recently been applied to multiple-choice perceptual decision-making. However, changes in the number of alternatives on an RDM display lead to changes in the similarity between the alternatives, complicating the study of multiple-choice effects. To disentangle the effects of similarity and number of alternatives, we analyzed behavior in the RDM task using an optimal-observer model. The model applies Bayesian principles to give an account of how changes in the stimulus influence the decision-making process. A possible neural implementation of the optimal-observer model is discussed, and we provide behavioral data that support the model. We verify the predictions from the optimal-observer model by fitting a descriptive model of choice behavior (the linear ballistic accumulator model) to the behavioral data. The results show that (a) there is a natural interaction in the RDM task between similarity and the number of alternatives; (b) the number of alternatives influences “response caution”, whereas the similarity between the alternatives influences “drift rate”; and (c) decisions in the RDM task are near optimal when participants are presented with multiple alternatives.