title: Bursts and heavy tails in temporal and sequential dynamics of foraging decisions.
abstract: A fundamental understanding of behavior requires predicting when and what an individual will choose. However, the actual temporal and sequential dynamics of successive choices made among multiple alternatives remain unclear. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that there is a general bursting property in both the timing and sequential patterns of foraging decisions. We conducted a foraging experiment in which rats chose among four different foods over a continuous two-week time period. Regarding when choices were made, we found bursts of rapidly occurring actions, separated by time-varying inactive periods, partially based on a circadian rhythm. Regarding what was chosen, we found sequential dynamics in affective choices characterized by two key features: (a) a highly biased choice distribution; and (b) preferential attachment, in which the animals were more likely to choose what they had previously chosen. To capture the temporal dynamics, we propose a dual-state model consisting of active and inactive states. We also introduce a satiation-attainment process for bursty activity, and a non-homogeneous Poisson process for longer inactivity between bursts. For the sequential dynamics, we propose a dual-control model consisting of goal-directed and habit systems, based on outcome valuation and choice history, respectively. This study provides insights into how the bursty nature of behavior emerges from the interaction of different underlying systems, leading to heavy tails in the distribution of behavior over time and choices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America.
authors.forename: Kanghoon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeran
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jerald D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kralik
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jaeseung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors