Time-varying perturbations can distinguish among integrate-to-threshold models for perceptual decision making in reaction time tasks.
Several integrate-to-threshold models with differing temporal integration mechanisms have been proposed to describe the accumulation of sensory evidence to a prescribed level prior to motor response in perceptual decision-making tasks. An experiment and simulation studies have shown that the introduction of time-varying perturbations during integration may distinguish among some of these models. Here, we present computer simulations and mathematical proofs that provide more rigorous comparisons among one-dimensional stochastic differential equation models. Using two perturbation protocols and focusing on the resulting changes in the means and standard deviations of decision times, we show that for high signal-to-noise ratios, drift-diffusion models with constant and time-varying drift rates can be distinguished from Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes, but not necessarily from each other. The protocols can also distinguish stable from unstable Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes, and we show that a nonlinear integrator can be distinguished from these linear models by changes in standard deviations. The protocols can be implemented in behavioral experiments.
Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. xiangz@math.princeton.edu
Xiang
X
Zhou
Kongfatt
K
Wong-Lin
Holmes
H
Philip
D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008960:Models, Psychological; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055656:Prescriptions; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors