Value Signals in the Human OMPFC Network
Distinguish Maximizers from Satisficers
during Goal Decision-Making
Jyrki Suomala, Ph.D; Jarmo Heinonen, Ph.D;
Lauri Palokangas, BSc; Jussi Numminen, MD, Ph.D
Neuroeconomics Lab, Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Espoo, Finland
Helsinki Medical Imaging Center, Töölö Hospital, University of Helsinki, Finland
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Objective
• Deep-seated goals in decision-making
experiment
• Personal wage expectations were used as
stimuli
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Accept or Reject
2500 €
2500 €
2500 €
Yes
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No
3
Prospect Theory
▶ Prospect Theory (PT) value function explains a
variety of economical choice behaviors
▶ Weighted Prospect Theory value function in
accordance to conventional parameterization
(Tversky and Kahneman, 1992)
▶ Choice behavior was studied in a subjective
choice situation.
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Sample and task
• Eighteen right-handed university students (11
women) - 9 maximizers and 9 satisficers
• Subset chosen from a larger study
(n=1209, Gasagrande, 2007)
• The subjects were scanned while engaged in a
task of accept or reject the wage
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Task to accept or reject the wage offers
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Behavioral:
Maximizers (blue) vs. Satisficers (red)
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▶ There were no behavioral differences
between Maximizers and Satisficers
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Maximizers group
Increased (positive correlation)
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The brain areas correlate with increased
salary offer in the Maximizers group
thresholds p < 0.001 at voxel level; minimum cluster size 10 voxels
Number of voxels
2.0*2.0*2.0 mm
85
270
213
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Local Zmax Location of local
Anatomic area
Putative
cluster maximum
Brodman
(in MNI coordinates)
area
4.84
20 62
-10
Right Medial
11
Orbitofrontal cortex
4.61
4 52
6
Bilateral Anterior
24/32
Cingulate Cortex
4.37
4 -60
12
Calcarine Sulcus
17
84
4.22
44 30
-14
67
3.98
-8 -74
-24
11
3.60
2 62
-12
31
3.47
42 -60
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Right Posterior
orbitofrontal cortex
Left superior
medial cerebellum
Left Medial
orbitofrontal cortex
Angular Gyrus
11
11
39
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Results
▶ The goal valuation signal in the right superior
temporal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus and insula
correlated positively with decreased salary offers
in the Maximizers group.
▶ Decreased value signal was observed in the
dorsal posterior cingulate and superior cerebellum
of Satisficers.
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Results
▶ Goal decision value signals were engaged in the
orbital and medial prefrontal cortex (OMPFC)
network during the experiment in in the
Maximizers group.
▶ The orbitofrontal cortex should be viewed as a
part of a functional network in OMPFC. This
network includes both the orbitofrontal cortex and
parts of the anterior cingulate cortex and has
distinct connections to other parts of the brain
(Kringelbach 2005).
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Results
▶ No behavioral differences between Maximizers
and Satisficers
however
▶ In fMRI results Maximizers and Satisficers
differed notably.
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▶ Previous studies have suggested that the
behavior of Maximizers and Satisficers differs
in real life contexts (Iyengar, S.S., Wells, R.E.
& Schwartz, B., 2006).
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Results
▶ Weighted Prospect Theory value function in
accordance to conventional parameterization
(Tversky and Kahneman, 1992)
with
▶ Goal valuation signals in the OMPFC network
correlated positively with increased salary offers
in the Maximizers group. Such signal was absent
among the Satisficers.
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Conclusions
▶ Difference occurs also in the neurophysiological level
between Maximizers and Satisficers.
▶ Explanation for this might be: the brain has capability to
incorporate cultural considerations into its standard
valuation circuitry.
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Thank you to
Antoine Bechara,
Ming Hsu,
Valtteri Leppihalme,
Sini Maunula,
Jose Santos,
Tuomas Tolvanen and
Tiina Vuorenpää
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