Figure 7. Individual differences in decision-making with contextual cues.

Correct and exploratory response rates in control (blue), transfer (orange), and open (green) episodes plotted against the number of trials following episode onsets (data from Experiment 2). Lines ± shaded areas (mean+S.E.M.): participants' performances. Lines ± error bars (mean ± S.E.M.): performances predicted by the fitted PROBE model in every trial according to the actual history of participants' responses. Left, context-exploiting participants: Correct responses increased and exploratory responses vanished faster in control than transfer episodes (Wilcoxon-tests, both zs>2.4, ps<0.015) and faster in transfer than open episodes (Wilcoxon-tests, both zs>3.1, ps<0.002). Middle, outcome-exploiting participants: performances were similar in control and transfer episodes (correct and exploratory responses: Wilcoxon-tests, both zs<1.4, ps>0.15), but correct responses increased and exploratory responses vanished faster in transfer than open episodes (Wilcoxon-tests, both zs>2.3, ps<0.023). Right, exploring participants: performances were similar in control, transfer, and open episodes (correct and exploratory responses: Friedmann-tests, both χ²<5.3, ps>0.07). Note that in open episodes, exploring participants adjusted faster than exploiting participants (correct responses: both ts>3.0, ps<0.004). See Table S2 for fitted model parameters in each group.