The effect of reinforcer magnitude on probability and delay discounting of experienced outcomes in a computer game task in humans.

Delay and uncertainty of receipt both reduce the subjective value of reinforcers. Delay has a greater impact on the subjective value of smaller reinforcers than of larger ones while the reverse is true for uncertainty. We investigated the effect of reinforcer magnitude on discounting of delayed and...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior Vol. 104; no. 2; pp. 186 - 198
Autores principales: Greenhow, Anna K., Hunt, Maree J., Macaskill, Anne C., Harper, David N.
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Sep2015
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:Delay and uncertainty of receipt both reduce the subjective value of reinforcers. Delay has a greater impact on the subjective value of smaller reinforcers than of larger ones while the reverse is true for uncertainty. We investigated the effect of reinforcer magnitude on discounting of delayed and uncertain reinforcers using a novel approach: embedding relevant choices within a computer game. Participants made repeated choices between smaller, certain, immediate outcomes and larger, but delayed or uncertain outcomes while experiencing the result of each choice. Participants' choices were generally well described by the hyperbolic discounting function. Smaller numbers of points were discounted more steeply than larger numbers as a function of delay but not probability. The novel experiential choice task described is a promising approach to investigating both delay and probability discounting in humans.