A neuroeconomics approach to inferring utility functions in sensorimotor control

PLoS Biology
Konrad KördingDaniel M Wolpert

Abstract

Making choices is a fundamental aspect of human life. For over a century experimental economists have characterized the decisions people make based on the concept of a utility function. This function increases with increasing desirability of the outcome, and people are assumed to make decisions so as to maximize utility. When utility depends on several variables, indifference curves arise that represent outcomes with identical utility that are therefore equally desirable. Whereas in economics utility is studied in terms of goods and services, the sensorimotor system may also have utility functions defining the desirability of various outcomes. Here, we investigate the indifference curves when subjects experience forces of varying magnitude and duration. Using a two-alternative forced-choice paradigm, in which subjects chose between different magnitude-duration profiles, we inferred the indifference curves and the utility function. Such a utility function defines, for example, whether subjects prefer to lift a 4-kg weight for 30 s or a 1-kg weight for a minute. The measured utility function depends nonlinearly on the force magnitude and duration and was remarkably conserved across subjects. This suggests that the utility functio...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Jul 6, 2007·Experimental Brain Research·Lili TcheangDaniel M Wolpert
Feb 6, 2008·Experimental Brain Research·Reza Shadmehr, John W Krakauer
Jun 17, 2008·Social Neuroscience·Olivier OullierJ A Scott Kelso
Oct 17, 2008·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Ian S HowardDaniel M Wolpert
Dec 19, 2008·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Vincent EthierReza Shadmehr
Feb 27, 2009·Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation·Vincent S Huang, John W Krakauer
Jun 27, 2009·PLoS Computational Biology·Arne J NagengastDaniel M Wolpert
Jul 14, 2011·PloS One·Thomas H WeisswangeJochen Triesch
Oct 25, 2011·PLoS Computational Biology·Bastien BerretThierry Pozzo
Jan 24, 2013·PloS One·Max BernikerAlaa A Ahmed
Oct 27, 2007·Science·Konrad Körding
Nov 10, 2007·Experimental Brain Research·Scott J YoungTom Chau
Nov 22, 2007·Experimental Brain Research·Joseph T Francis
Jan 7, 2011·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Arne J NagengastDaniel M Wolpert
May 20, 2009·Journal of Neuroscience Methods·Ian S HowardDaniel M Wolpert
Jun 2, 2015·Frontiers in Psychology·Abby TaborG L Moseley
Jul 5, 2016·Current Biology : CB·Reza ShadmehrAlaa A Ahmed
Aug 19, 2017·PLoS Biology·Ignasi Cos
Sep 18, 2013·Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise·Ross H MillerKevin J Deluzio
Jul 21, 2021·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Erik M Summerside, Alaa A Ahmed
Nov 29, 2011·Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling·Maykel Cruz-MonteagudoM Natália D S Cordeiro

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