Abstract
The drift diffusion model (DDM) provides a parsimonious explanation of decisions across neurobiological, psychological, and behavioral levels of analysis. Although most DDM implementations assume that only a single value guides decisions, choices often involve multiple attributes that could make separable contributions to choice. Here, we fit incentive-compatible dietary choices to a multi-attribute, time-dependent drift diffusion model (mtDDM), in which taste and health could differentially influence the evidence accumulation process. We found that these attributes shaped both the relative value signal and the latency of evidence accumulation in a manner consistent with participants’ idiosyncratic preferences. Moreover, by using a dietary prime, we showed how a healthy choice intervention alters mtDDM parameters that in turn predict prime-dependent choices. Our results reveal that different decision attributes make separable contributions to the strength and timing of evidence accumulation – providing new insights into the construction of interventions to alter the processes of choice.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
Footnotes
Exposition changed to emphasize the model and change discussion of self-control to healthy choices. Clarify and extend model predictions. Addition of a new models for comparison. Change to cross-validated method for parameter validation. Author affiliations updated.