Figure 2. Behavioural task in Experiments 1–7.

(a) The behavioural task was first described by Chau et al., 2014 as follows. In the initial phase of two-option trials participants saw two stimuli indicating two choices. These were immediately surrounded by orange squares, indicating that either might be chosen. A subsequent color change in one box indicated which choice the participant took. In the outcome phase of the trial the outline color of the chosen stimulus indicated whether the reward had been won. The final reward allocated to the participant on leaving the experiment was calculated by averaging the outcome of all trials. Distractor trials unfolded in a similar way but, in the decision phase, one stimulus, the distractor, was surrounded by a purple square to indicate that it could not be chosen while the presentation of orange squares around the other options indicated that they were available to choose. (b) Prior to task performance participants learned that stimulus orientation and color indicated the probability and magnitude of rewards if the stimulus was chosen.

© 2014 Springer Nature

Figure 2 is reproduced from Chau et al., 2014, Nature Neuroscience, by permission of Springer Nature (copyright, 2014). This figure is not covered by the CC-BY 4.0 licence and further reproduction of this panel would need permission from the copyright holder.