Neurocomputational approaches to individual differences in `virtuous' decision-making

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What computations in the human brain determine whether we fail or succeed to make virtuous' choices? Eat healthier, save for retirement, or reduce the ecological footprint are a few examples of choices widely considered as good' due to their long-term benefits for decision-makers and/or society. Yet, empirical data and personal experience alike point to dramatic differences in peoples' tendencies to align choices with virtuous goals, as this often requires forgoing direct, immediate rewards in favor of rewards that are more indirect, abstract or delayed (e.g. health').******My trainees and I study the neural underpinnings that drive differences in virtuous' decision-making across people, contexts, and choice domains, using the following framework. Most choices require weighing competing considerations. A popular computational model assumes that this is done by computing a decision value (DV) for each choice option (e.g. pizza or salad for lunch) as the weighted sum of choice-relevant considerations (or attributes) (DV=iwi(Attributei), and comparing DVs. Yet, not all attributes are weighted equally, leading to biases in choices often in favor of immediate hedonistic rewards.******Adopting this framework, my research program structures three related aims to understand the neural basis of variance in good' decision-making. Overlapping participant samples across aims permit synergistic cross talk among their key questions, measures, and methodological tools.***-AIM 1. Differences across people. Why do some people seem to have an easier time making the right' choice than others? We explore the role of brain anatomy and connectivity of nodes of the brain's decision network for differences in computations and choices across people.***-AIM 2. Malleability. How malleable are attribute-specific computations in the brain? To what degree can contextual and attention manipulations towards virtuous' attributes alter choices? Analyses of brain data utilizes advanced multivariate pattern analyses (MVPA) that will be a crucial element of HQP training.***-AIM 3. Generalisability and ecological validity. Are people that have difficulties incorporating virtuous' attributes (linked to abstract, indirect rewards) in one choice domain (e.g. dietary choice) also more likely to struggle with this in other areas of their life (e.g. saving for retirement)? To what degree do model estimates of virtuous choice' obtained in the lab generalize to behaviors in the real world?******My trainees and I will use these findings to build a neurally informed model of human decision-making, a long-term goal of this research program. This work is transformational for our understanding of basic cognitive processes of choices and can inform policy makers. Understanding the underlying computations, distinct neural substrates, and their malleability might ultimately inform targeted, process-specific interventions to effectively increase virtuous' behaviors in various domains of our daily life.**