Probability matching is not the default decision making strategy in human and non-human primates
Abstract Probability matching has long been taken as a prime example of irrational behaviour in human decision making; however, its nature and uniqueness in the animal world is still much debated. In this paper we report a set of four preregistered experiments testing adult humans and Guinea baboons...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16983-w |
| _version_ | 1811223068554559488 |
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| author | Carmen Saldana Nicolas Claidière Joël Fagot Kenny Smith |
| author_facet | Carmen Saldana Nicolas Claidière Joël Fagot Kenny Smith |
| author_sort | Carmen Saldana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Probability matching has long been taken as a prime example of irrational behaviour in human decision making; however, its nature and uniqueness in the animal world is still much debated. In this paper we report a set of four preregistered experiments testing adult humans and Guinea baboons on matched probability learning tasks, manipulating task complexity (binary or ternary prediction tasks) and reinforcement procedures (with and without corrective feedback). Our findings suggest that probability matching behaviour within primate species is restricted to humans and the simplest possible binary prediction tasks; utility-maximising is seen in more complex tasks for humans as pattern-search becomes more effortful, and we observe it across the board in baboons, altogether suggesting that it is a cognitively less demanding strategy. These results provide further evidence that neither human nor non-human primates default to probability matching; however, unlike other primates, adult humans probability match when the cost of pattern search is low. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:25:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a79615d0f7574def8b1c650f817dab02 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:25:37Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-a79615d0f7574def8b1c650f817dab022022-12-22T03:40:23ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-07-0112111610.1038/s41598-022-16983-wProbability matching is not the default decision making strategy in human and non-human primatesCarmen Saldana0Nicolas Claidière1Joël Fagot2Kenny Smith3Department of Comparative Language Science, University of ZurichAix-Marseille Université, CNRS, LPC, FED3CAix-Marseille Université, CNRS, LPC, FED3CCentre for Language Evolution, The University of EdinburghAbstract Probability matching has long been taken as a prime example of irrational behaviour in human decision making; however, its nature and uniqueness in the animal world is still much debated. In this paper we report a set of four preregistered experiments testing adult humans and Guinea baboons on matched probability learning tasks, manipulating task complexity (binary or ternary prediction tasks) and reinforcement procedures (with and without corrective feedback). Our findings suggest that probability matching behaviour within primate species is restricted to humans and the simplest possible binary prediction tasks; utility-maximising is seen in more complex tasks for humans as pattern-search becomes more effortful, and we observe it across the board in baboons, altogether suggesting that it is a cognitively less demanding strategy. These results provide further evidence that neither human nor non-human primates default to probability matching; however, unlike other primates, adult humans probability match when the cost of pattern search is low.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16983-w |
| spellingShingle | Carmen Saldana Nicolas Claidière Joël Fagot Kenny Smith Probability matching is not the default decision making strategy in human and non-human primates Scientific Reports |
| title | Probability matching is not the default decision making strategy in human and non-human primates |
| title_full | Probability matching is not the default decision making strategy in human and non-human primates |
| title_fullStr | Probability matching is not the default decision making strategy in human and non-human primates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Probability matching is not the default decision making strategy in human and non-human primates |
| title_short | Probability matching is not the default decision making strategy in human and non-human primates |
| title_sort | probability matching is not the default decision making strategy in human and non human primates |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16983-w |
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