This study is about generalization of expected value on similar stimulus. From precedent study about perception, it is known that generalization curve of loss context is wider than gain context. In this study, we were interested in the effect of rewar...
This study is about generalization of expected value on similar stimulus. From precedent study about perception, it is known that generalization curve of loss context is wider than gain context. In this study, we were interested in the effect of reward context on transfer of expected value in similar stimulus which is easy to be discriminated to original. The experiment was divided to learning phase and decision phase. In learning phase, participants learned association between orientation and rewards, and in decision phase, they valued willingness to bet on stimulus those are similar to learned stimulus. As a results, there was a transfer of expected value on similar stimulus. Also, the strength of willingness to bet was depend on the degree of similarity. There was no significant difference between gain and loss context. To know whether proportion of gain and loss would affect participants’ decision, we proceed experiment 2. We modified the proportion to be biased to gain in experiment 2. As a result, the difference of strength of willing to gamble did not shown in gain context. These results are opposed to the explanation of loss aversion theory that people charge more weight to losses than equivalent gains. Alternatively, our study supports loss attentional model, which suppose that tendency of avoidance is not shown for minor losses.