Health behaviors, affect, and academic performance: A longitudinal study across times of high stress

Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation
Funding Period: 2012-2015
Investigators: Jutta Mata and Roselind Lieb
Graduate student: N.N.

Research suggests that health behaviors such as regular physical activity and balanced eating play a central role in emotion regulation and emotional well-being. Other research shows that these same health behaviors also improve cognitive and academic performance. However, these two separate lines of research have rarely been combined. With the study described in this research proposal we plan to assess health behaviors, emotions, and academic performance simultaneously and repeatedly over one academic year in the same sample of younger adults, using field research, laboratory experiments, and biological markers.

An academic year varies considerably in the amount of stressors and perceived stress. Next to common hassles such as having a work deadline or having an argument with a significant other, there are stressors such as important examinations. Importantly, adherence to health behaviors declines during stressful times: Individuals under stress typically engage in less physical activity and increase their food intake, particularly the consumption of foods high in calories and palatability. Consequently, this proposal further aims to test the idea that stress is an important factor that can influence the link between health behaviors, emotion, and cognitive performance.

Young adults are an important target group concerning research on health behaviors because unhealthy behaviors often develop early in life and are difficult to tackle once they become habits. In addition, first-year university students are particularly suited to research on the link between health behaviors, affect, and cognitive performance across periods of relatively high and low stress: First-year university students are regularly engaged in cognitively demanding activities and experience similar stressors throughout the academic year, including clearly defined instruction, examination, and vacation periods. Consequently, this target group allows comparing individual differences in the links between health behaviors, emotion, and cognitive performance in the face of similar external stressors in a real-world setting.

The results of this study can contribute to a better understanding of how stress moderates one’s ability to maintain physical activity and healthy eating behaviors. This has important consequences for emotional well-being and academic performance. In addition, more than 40% of young adults enter university-level education in Switzerland, suggesting such a study is relevant to a specific but substantial portion of the younger population. Specifically, our results have the potential to directly inform policy makers about crucial targets for health-promotion and stress-prevention programs that can help reduce negative impact of unhealthy behaviors in a student population.

Psychotherapy and Psychobiology of Globus Sensations

Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation
Investigators: Gunther Meinlschmidt, Roselind Lieb, Isabella Mutschler

Functional somatic symptoms (FSS) are characterized by the presence of medically unexplained symptoms, and therefore show substantial overlap with the somatoform disorders. They are among the most prevalent disorders in the general medical setting, with huge impact on public health. While the classification of these disorders remains controversial, several lines of evidence suggest that psychological processes (e.g. affect, expectancy, attention, avoidance), brain function, and information transfer systems (e.g. the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis) linking brain and peripheral organs, play a major role in associated disease etiology. Even though the first line of treatment for FSS is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), many patients still remain untreated. Among the most common FSS in the general population are medically unexplained globus sensations (GS) in the throat. Like other FSS, GS are strongly associated with anxiety and depression, often preceded by stressful events, and they regularly lead to medical treatment seeking. Despite high prevalence of GS, no CBT trial in GS patients has as yet been reported. Moreover, associated psychological processes, pathophysiology, and risk factors are barely understood, even though they are supposed to parallel those of other FSS. Therefore, in the proposed study, our main aims are, to conduct a randomized clinical trial i) to examine whether CBT is effective as treatment of GS and how it affects associated psychopathology, ii) to examine whether treatment response can be predicted, e.g. by pre-treatment indicators of psychological functioning, and iii) to determine whether GS symptomatology is associated with known risk factors for FSS.

Search in space and mind: Dynamics and structure in recall from long-term memory Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation

Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation

Funding Period: 2010-2013
Investigators: Thomas Hills and Ralph Hertwig
Graduate student: N.N.

How is search in memory like or not like search in space? Research on the neural and ecological correlates of spatial foraging has identified key features that are shared with our ability to navigate mental representations—both in terms of the correlated structure of the environments and the shared structure in our neural anatomy (Hills, 2006).  William James presaged these findings when he wrote “We make search in our memory for a forgotten idea, just as we rummage our house for a lost object.” One focal observation is that there are generalized neural search processes that adaptively modulate between exploitation and exploration in response to the reward structure of the environment.  Both space and mind share structure, and that structure helps guide our search. To investigate the role of dynamics and structure in long-term memory search, we propose to use free recall from natural categories to compare models of memory recovery (e.g., SAM; Raaijmakers & Shiffrin, 1981) using memory representations acquired from real perceptual and lexical environments (e.g., LSA; Landauer & Dumais, 1997).   Using this paradigm, we will address numerous outstanding concerns in the memory literature, including the dynamic local to global processing of memory search, how memory search may transition between clusters of semantic information like bumblees move between flowers, and how retrieval induced forgetting and the tip-of-the-tongue effect are facilitated by the structure of the memory environment.

Hills, T. (2006). Animal foraging and the evolution of goal-directed cognition. Cognitive Science, 30, 3-41.
Landauer, T.K. & Dumais, S.T. (1997). A solution to Plato’s problem: the Latent Semantic Analysis theory of acquisition, induction, and representation of knowledge. Psychological Review, 104, 211–240.
Raaijmakers, J. G. W., & Shiffrin, R. M. (1981). Search of associative memory. Psychological Review, 88, 93-134.

Dialectical bootstrapping: A new paradigm to improve individual judgment

Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation
Funding Period: 2010–2013
Investigators: Stefan Herzog and Ralph Hertwig
Graduate student: N.N.

We proposed “dialectical bootstrapping”—simulating the “wisdom of crowds” within a single mind—as technique to improve individual judgment (Herzog & Hertwig, 2009). This project tests the robustness of dialectical bootstrapping and whether people can be taught to use it.

Background: Different lines of research have addressed how to best make quantitative predictions, including psychology, management science, computer science, statistics and medicine. One time proven way to improve judgment is the following: When there are several different plausible predictions (stemming from different experts and/or different statistical procedures) and no reliable track record about their past performance are available, average those predictions. Averages of predictions outperform the typical predictions in the set and can even outperform the best single prediction. Can a single person benefit from averaging without actually consulting other people? We proposed a novel approach to improve individual judgment called “dialectical bootstrapping”, which enables different opinions to be generated and combined by the same person, thus simulating the “wisdom of crowds” within a single mind (Herzog & Hertwig, 2009).

Goal: We have two main goals: First, we test the robustness and boundary conditions of dialectical bootstrapping by investigating its effectiveness in different domains and using different procedures. Second, we examine several psychological aspects of dialectical bootstrapping, namely whether people spontaneously use dialectical bootstrapping, whether the tool can be taught to people and whether people are prepared to combine conflicting estimates at all when the conflict’s source is their own mind. 

Relevance: Dialectical bootstrapping promises to be a practical tool to improve quantitative judgments. In many settings, as for example in finance, medical and managerial decision making, there are successful decision aids available that can be applied in routine decision making situations. However, whenever new situations emerge, decision makers often do not have the time, resources or data to construct appropriate statistical models or to seek advice from other people. Instead, they could try to tap into the wisdom of the crowd in their own mind by applying dialectical bootstrapping.

Herzog, S. M., & Hertwig, R. (2009). The wisdom of many in one mind: Improving individual judgments with dialectical bootstrapping. Psychological Science, 20, 231–237.

Memory in Health and Disease – From basic mechanisms to clinical implications

PP00P3_123391
de Quervain Dominique
01.03.2009 – 28.02.2011
Individual Support: SNSF Professorships

In the present project, I will further investigate the memory modulatory effects of glucocorticoids in health and disease and aim to identify and characterize novel memory-related genes in humans. Glucocorticoids and memory: We have previously reported that glucocorticoids can inhibit memory retrieval in animals and healthy humans. While elevated glucocorticoid levels are detrimental when information should be retrieved (e.g. during exams), they may actually have beneficial effects in conditions when memory retrieval is distressing or maladaptive. Indeed, our recent studies provide first evidence that the administration of glucocorticoids reduces retrieval of traumatic memories in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and fear memory in phobias. Moreover, our data suggest that glucocorticoids promote the extinction of such aversive memories. In the present project I aim to further investigate the role of glucocorticoids in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Genes and memory: Studies in twins revealed a roughly 50% heritable component for human memory capacity, indicating that naturally occurring genetic variations have an important impact on this cognitive ability. Both in candidate gene studies and in pooling-based genome-wide screens, we have identified several genes related to human memory. Furthermore, we were able to characterize the identified genes with functional imaging techniques (fMRI). Currently, we are running an individual genome-wide screen with 1.8 million genetic markers in our population of 350 healthy human subjects and we expect a large number of highly significant signals. The identification and characterization of novel memory-related genes in humans will help to better understand the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms of human memory and will ultimately promote the targeted treatment of memory disorders.

KRAB/KAP1 epigenetic regulation in the control of memory and emotional traits: from mice to humans.

CRSIK0_122691
Trono Didier, de Quervain Dominique, Papassotiropoulos Andreas, Sandi Carmen
01.12.2008 – 30.11.2011
Sinergia

This project aims at exploring the genetic bases of vulnerability to behavioral stress and stress-related disorders such as hyperanxiety, post-traumatic stress syndrome and depression. The four groups engaged in tackling this objective will capitalize on their recent discovery that a particular family of so-called epigenetic regulators of gene expression conditions susceptibility to behavioral stress and stress-induced cognitive defects in the mouse, and on their previous development of techniques to identify genetic factors related to emotional and non-emotional memory in humans. The study will combine molecular, genetic, behavioral and neuroimaging appraoches in a truly multidisciplinary atmosphere. The definition of genetic predictors of stress-induced pathologies will help design new approaches for the prevention and treatment of these pandemic diseases.

Mineralocorticoid- and glucocorticoid receptor systems and emotional memory: a human genetics approach. (EMRC/ECORES/07-EUROSTRESS-FP-005)

32ES30-124236
de Quervain Dominique, Papassotiropoulos Andreas, R. de Kloet, J. Seckl, T. Olsson
01.09.2008 – 31.08.2011
Project Support: Independent Basic Research

A fundamental question in stress research is why some individuals become vulnerable to affective disease, while others are resilient and gain strength from stressful experiences. In this multidisciplinary program we focus in a translational approach on the role of glucocorticoids, stress hormones released from the adrenal cortex. Secreted glucocorticoids target the brain, where their actions on emotional arousal, cognition and motivation are mediated by mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors (MR and GR). Recent evidence from our laboratories suggests that these receptors operate in concert with the other stress mediators, in all phases of the stress response from the onset to the recovery and from appraisal to memory storage/retrieval processes and affective responses. We test the hypothesis that imbalance in MR:GR mediated processes threatens affective health. Our objective is to understand how glucocorticoids, which are essential for adaptation and mental health, can become harmful. We have the following specific aims:

1)    to generate animal models with altered MR:GR balance via transgenic and lentiviral approaches (Prof. R. de Kloet, Netherlands)

2)    to induce enduring MR:GR changes in response to maternal care and perinatal challenges (Prof. J. Seckl, UK)

3)    to examine the behavioral and neuroendocrine phenotype of these MR:GR modulated models (Prof. R. de Kloet, Prof. J. Seckl)

4)    to relate genetic variation in human MRs and GRs to emotional and traumatic memories as well as vulnerability to and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (Prof. D. de Quervain, Prof. A. Papassotiropoulos, Switzerland)

5)    to study hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in Alzheimer’s Disease and chronic burnout patients and to relate genetic variation in human MRs and GRs to cognition and affective health (Prof. T. Olsson, Sweden)

Relevance of the project: With this international research initiative we intend to gain novel insights in the role of the mineralocorticoid- and glucocorticoid system in physiological and pathophysiological processes of emotion and memory.

Glucocorticoid treatment in combination with exposure therapy for the treatment of social phobia

124947
Soravia Leila, de Quervain Dominique, Heinrichs Markus, Strik Werner
01.07.2009 – 30.06.2012
Project Support: Independent Basic Research

Glucocorticoid treatment in combination with exposure therapy for the treatment of social phobia

Anxiety disorders have major public health significance and social phobia ranks as the third most common mental health disorder after depression and alcoholism. Even though cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective non-pharmacological approach to the treatment of social phobia, more than one third of the patients do not respond to treatment, or achieve only partial remission of symptoms. Pharmacotherapy (e.g., SSRIs, benzodiazepines) has been shown to be effective in the acute treatment of social phobia, however, with high rates of relapse when medication is discontinued. In addition, the combination of CBT and medication does not seem to be more beneficial than CBT alone. Consequently, the development of innovative psychobiological approaches combining effective psychotherapy methods with synergizing substance administration is a primary challenge in interdisciplinary research on treatment of social phobia.

In a recent study we found evidence that a pharmacological elevation of glucocorticoid levels reduces fear in patients with social phobia and spider phobia exposed to a phobic stimulus. Furthermore, we have shown that repeated administration of glucocorticoids before exposure to a phobic stimulus leads to an extinction of phobic fear. Based on these findings, glucocorticoid treatment, in combination with exposure therapy, may help to reduce fear and promote extinction of phobic fear.

In an interdisciplinary research project involving psychology, behavioral pharmacology psychiatry, and genetics we propose to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of combining an exposure-based cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT) with hydrocortisone treatment. We hypothesize that hydrocortisone exerts both acute beneficial effects by reducing fear during exposure, and long-term beneficial effects by facilitating the extinction of phobic fear. These hypotheses will be tested in a clinical study with 100 patients who fulfill DSM-IV criteria for a diagnosis of social phobia. Patients will be randomly assigned to oral administration of either hydrocortisone (20 mg) or placebo 50 min before 5 weekly CBGT sessions. Psychopathological symptoms and stress reactivity will be assessed by psychometric and endocrine parameters before, during and after CBGT therapy.

This is the first study aimed at determining the therapeutic efficacy of combining hydrocortisone administration and a short-term exposure-based cognitive-behavioral group therapy for the treatment of patients with social phobia. Considering the large number of patients suffering from social phobia, the suggested interdisciplinary project will have important clinical implications for the development of a more effective therapy.

The interplay of work and family during transitions

During adulthood, dealing with critical life-events and transitions represent important developmental challenges. The current project focuses on two transitions: the transition to parenthood and the transition to grandparenthood. We expect these transitions, although they are taken place in adults’ family systems, to also have a potential impact on their working lives by, for instance, initiating motivational changes in terms of an increased or decreased work orientation. With respect to the transition to parenthood, we will investigate how pregnant women's and their partners’ future labor participation plans and planning stability are influenced by attitudes and goals, social norms and available role models, and by economic and behavioral resources (e.g., self-management competencies). With regard to the transition to grandparenthood, we will analyze the factors that determine whether or not this transition affects middle-aged adults' work motivation and plans (e.g., taking early retirement or reductions of weekly working hours into consideration)

Funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation; Funding period: 2009-2013; PI: Bettina S. Wiese (University of Basel)

Successful re-entry to work life after a maternity leave

Re-entering the workforce after a maternity leave represents a life transition that many women face at least once during adult years. We recently completed a data collection of a four-wave longitudinal research project with about 300 women who were actually re-entering the workforce. We are now using this data set to test the attitudinal, motivational and social predictors of successfully managing this transition.

Funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation; Funding period: 2006-2010; PI: Bettina S. Wiese (University of Basel)

Professional trajectories

Within the Swiss NCCR „LIVES – Overcoming vulnerability: Life course perspectives“, we investigate the strategies and person characteristics that help people managing their lives when facing critical life-events such as losing one’s job or re-entering into working life after a phase of unemployment, illness or parental leave.

Funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation; Funding period: 2011-2014; Subproject’s PI: Jerôme Rossier (University of Lausanne), Co-Investigators: Alexandra Freund (University of Zurich), Franciska Krings (University of Lausanne), Willibald Ruch (University of Zurich); Bettina S. Wiese (University of Basel)

Emotion labor: Regulatory strategies of younger and older employees

In most occupations, people need to regulate their emotions when dealing with co-workers or customers. Typically, it is not appropriate, for instance, to express anger at a customer. What are adaptive ways to regulate emotions at the workplace? Our multi-method research project aims at investigating younger and older employees' motivation and competencies in emotion labor.

Funded by the Suzanne and Hans Biäsch Foundation, Zurich; Funding period: 2008-2010; PI: Bettina S. Wiese (University of Basel)

Understanding the Link Between Low Self-Esteem and Depression

Neural bases of self-control and social functioning

SNF; PP00P1-123381
PI: Knoch, Daria, Dr. phil.
Project title: Neural bases of self-control and social functioning
Duration: 2009-2013

The capacity of self-control, i.e. the conscious control of thought, action, and emotions, is essential for adaptive decision making. The proposed research program has a strong interdisciplinary focus involving psychology, economics, and neuroscience. It aims to answer the following questions: Which brain regions are involved in the neural networks that implement self-control processes? Can pharmacological interventions or external brain stimulation modulate these processes? Do any individual neurobiological dispositions explain why some individuals have higher self-control capacities than others?
From a theoretical and empirical perspective, we use paradigms derived from social psychology and economics that allow examining self-control processes in highly complex social and non-social situations. From a methodological perspective, these paradigms will be investigated using neuroscientific research methods such as brain stimulation techniques, pharmacological intervention, metabolic and electrical functional imaging, and molecular genetics.

Key references:
Figner B, Knoch D, Johnson EJ, Krosch AR, Lisanby SH, Fehr E, Weber EU. Lateral prefrontal cortex and self-control in intertemporal choice. Nature Neuroscience, 2010, 13: 538–539.
Eisenegger C*, Knoch D*, Ebstein RP, Gianotti LRR, Sándor PS, Fehr E. (* shared first authorship). DRD4 polymorphism predicts the effect of L-DOPA on gambling behavior. Biological Psychiatry, 2010, 67: 702–706.
Knoch D*, Gianotti LRR*, Baumgartner T, Fehr E. (* shared first authorship). A neural marker of costly punishment behavior. Psychological Science, 2010, 21: 337–342.

CO-DEVELOPMENT IN PERSONALITY: LONGITUDINAL APPROACHES TO PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN DYADS ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN

Funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation Sinergia-Program

Princial Investigator: Alexander Grob, Unversity of Basel
Co-PIs: Mike Martin, University of Zurich; Franciska Krings, University of Lausanne; Bettina Wiese, University of Basel
Project Coordination: Veronica Gomez, University of Basel; Mathias Allemand, University of Zurich

Human development can be understood as the interaction between biological, socio- historical, and social conditions and individual developmental actions. This notion is taken for granted since Havighurst's (1948) formulation of Developmental Tasks and Erikson's (1950) description of Life Cycles. Furthermore, in post-modern societies individuals can and must responsibly control their own life course and sense of well-being. From this perspective, human beings become more than ever architects of their fortune. 

We investigate how this general premise is linked to current perspectives of personality development, in particular to those that assume a biological basis with an increasing impact of individual actions on personality development across the life span. More specifically, we will study how individual personality development is related to the development of a dyadic partner in inter- and intra-generational relationships. The relational component in personality development is highly esteemed during the first years of life, but largely neglected across the life span. We seek to fill this gap by providing answers to the question to which extent and through which processes personality development depends on dyadic relationships along the life span.

The Sinergia project consists of three complementary modules: Module 1 generates a three-generational multisite multidisciplinary longitudinal data pool covering young adulthood (G3), middle adulthood (G2) and older adulthood (G1). Module 2 uses existing international, representative, large scale panel studies that contain data on more than one generation and/or intra-generational dyads. Module 3 contains a career development program that provides education, training, and networking opportunities for young scientists in an international collaborative environment.

This project structure is able to provide answers to the overarching question whether, to which degree, and by which processes personality development is dependent on dyadic relationships along the life span from an intra- and inter-generational perspective.

THE IMPACT OF FAMILY STRESS ON CHILDREN IN TRANSITION INTO PUBERTY: THE IN-TERPLAY OF SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL PROCESSES

Funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation

Principal Investigator: Beate Schwarz, University of Basel
Doctoral student: Andrea Siffert, University of Basel

Based on a transactional model of children’s development under family stress this study investigates: a) family stress caused by dysfunctional family processes such as interparental conflict, inadequate parenting, and low quality of the parent-child-relationship, b) the mediating function of emotion processing (emotion regulation, (in)secure attachment) for the relation between family stress and children’s mental and physical health, behavior problems, and well-being, and c) the stress buffering function of the quality of the children’s peer relationships. In order to test the dynamic transactional processes predicted by the model, a prospective longitudinal study is conducted with children, who undergo a specific vulnerable phase for stress: the onset of puberty. This transition might influence the family relationships as well as the adjustment to family stress.

Data collection is based on standardized interviews and questionaires which are conducted in Basel and the surrounding area. At the time 1 of the assessment in the year 2008 247 4th-graders and their mothers as well as 126 fathers participated. One year later we again interviewed 228 early adolescents and their mothers and 117 fathers. In late summer 2010 the third assessment and the data entry process will be finished.

pc4youth — IMPROVING LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVES OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED ADOLESCENTS BY PEER-TUTORING

Funded by the Jacobs Foundation (Zurich, Switzerland) and the Biaesch Foundation (Zurich, Switzerland)

Principal Investigator: Alexander Grob, University of Basel
Project Coordination: Andrea Pfyffer, University of Basel; Svetlana Stupish, BIP-Institute of Law, Minsk (Belarus)
Weblink: www.pc4youth.ch

School attendance during compulsory years is high. However, there are pupils who do not attend classes on a regular basis, especially in mid-adolescence. Often, these adolescents show poor academic achievement, have low grades and report various problem behaviors. Consequently, they are at risk of failing in a vocational training. Academic disadvantage is frequently correlated with low SES and family problems. To face these problems we initiated in the year 2000 the pc4youth program with the main goal to reduce negative outcomes of social disadvantage and to enlarge the probability for a successful transition into professional life in the City of Bonn, Germany. In 2003, the program was adapted from the Western to a transitional context, i.e., the City of Omsk, Russia. Since 2008, the pc4youth program runs in the Cities of Basel, Switzerland, and Minsk, Belarus.

The central means for reaching the program’s goals are offering the opportunity to gain computer knowledge and expertise in a three level tutoring program embedded in an incentive system, i.e. advancement in the internal hierarchy from tutee to tutor and to consultant. Advancement in the hierarchy is accompanied by a positive change in computer knowledge, learning attitudes, achievement motivation and the development of positive future perspectives. The multi-level individual changes are assessed along the duration of the project in order to evaluate the program concurrently and tested against adolescents in a control group.

SECONDLANGUAGE: PREKINDERGARTEN LANGUAGE INTERVENTION AND DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME

Funded by the Jacobs Foundation (Zurich, Switzerland) and the Department of Education of the Canton of Basel-Stadt

Principal Investigator: Alexander Grob, Unversity of Basel
Project Coordination: Karin Keller, University of Basel

The integration of immigrant populations is of great importance to society. Various stakeholders have an interest for productive solutions. Evidence on factors that advance integration is scarce, especially with regard to the early education of immigrant children. The Executive Council of the Canton of Basel-Stadt has recognized the importance of the acquisition of the educational language during the early childhood development window and put into action the program “Mit ausreichenden Deutschkenntnissen in den Kindergarten” which aims at rising the knowledge of German of children of immigrant families. The compulsory prekindergarten program consists in a built-in language support for two half days per week for one year before the start of kindergarten.

On this background we designed a state-of-the-art quasi-experimental multi-informant longitudinal study that aims to investigate comprehensively the course of development of non-native- and native-German-speaking children, and to track the developmental and social importance of early intervention over an extended period starting at the age of 3 years. The project evaluates the effect of the program on German language development and studies developmental trajectories of 350 children with immigration background and 150 native German-speaking children. The first focus of the project is on receptive and expressive German language proficiency, the use of language in everyday situations, and communicative skills. The second focus is directed toward a broad range of developmental functions such as cognitive, motor, social and emotional development, as well as school performance. The third focus is to explore the quality of the participant’s familial and the extra-familial learning environments. Overall, the project will provide the opportunity to study lasting effects of a compulsory prekindergarten language intervention program across childhood and adolescence.

Testing Cognitive Process Models of Choice Against Standard Utility Theories in a Consumer Context

Title: Testing Cognitive Process Models of Choice Against Standard Utility Theories in a Consumer Context
Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation, 2010-2013
Investigators: Benjamin Scheibehenne, Nicolas Berkowitsch and Jörg Rieskamp

Most of the existing research in economics, marketing, and psychology is dominated by predicting preferential decisions with (random) utility models of choice. While these models often provide reasonable predictions of people’s choices, there are many decision situations in which these models systematically fail. To overcome these limitations, we apply cognitive process models to explain and predict consumer choices. Based on a series of empirical experiments and simulation studies, we rigorously test the advantages of these cognitive process models for predicting preferential choices. The project aims at improving our understanding of people’s preferential choices which has important implications for theory building in economics, marketing, and psychology.

The Memory Foundation of Judgment and Categorization Processes

Title: The Memory Foundation of Judgment and Categorization Processes
Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation, 2010-2013
Investigators: Bettina von Helversen and Jörg Rieskamp

Higher order cognitive processes such as judgments or categorizations crucially depend on the knowledge we have acquired about the world. However, how judgment processes connect to basic cognitive capacities such as memory or attention is often neglected. This project aims to contribute to closing this gap in the literature by linking judgment processes with different memory processes such as working memory, episodic, and implicit memory. More specifically we investigate how interindividual differences in memory performance affect the strategies people use to solve judgment and categorization tasks as well as under which circumstances they influence judgment accuracy. 

Computing Conjunctive Probabilities by Combining Constituent Probabilities: An Evaluation of the Weighted Average Model

Title: Computing Conjunctive Probabilities by Combining Constituent Probabilities: An Evaluation of the Weighted Average Model
Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation, 2009-2011
Investigators: Jörg Rieskamp and Hakan Nilsson

This project examines how people make judgments about uncertain events. People often have to evaluate the probability with which uncertain event occur. We examine how people estimate the conjunctive probability of two events. To make these judgments the subjective constituent probabilities for single events (e.g. the probability of snow tomorrow) have to be combined to evaluate the conjunctive probabilities of two events (e.g., the probability of snow AND of sunny weather). We explore the hypothesis that people estimate conjunctive probabilities by taking a weighted average of the subjective probabilities of the conjunction’s constituents. Interesting following a weighted average model leads to good estimates of the conjunctive probabilities when the constituent probabilities are assessed with error. We explore the conditions under which people follow the weighted average model and explore the adaptive value of the model.

Neurological Signatures of Learning in Social Environments

Title: Neurological Signatures of Learning in Social Environments
Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation, 2010-2013
Investigators: Vasily Klucharev and Jörg Rieskamp

Human behavior is often guided by the perceived behavior of others. We suggest that recent neuro-scientific and computational models of human behavior can describe the cognitive processes of social influence. These models suggest that goal-directed behavior requires continuous performance monitoring: Successful behavior is reinforced while errors call for behavioral adjustments. This approach suggests that a “reward prediction error” guides decision making by signaling the need for behavioral adjustments. Recently we hypothesize (Klucharev et al., 2009) that social influence also evokes learning based on reinforcement learning mechanisms, which occurs via reward prediction errors generated by the dopamine system of the brain. Our studies examine social and non-social reward prediction errors within the dopaminergic system of the human brain. We extend this research to situations with realistic social interactions, that is, where the outcome of a person’s decision also depends on the decisions of others. Overall, the proposed project aims to examine the role of reward prediction-error signals in social situations.