Previous studies have found an association between the prospect theory’s (PT’s) value function and the networks in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the striatum during routine choice, but little is known about the brain activity and the role of the PT during choices regarding a salary expectation. We constructed an experiment in which the subjects’ wage expectations were used as a reference point (RP) and representatives of two distinct psychological profiles in decision-making served as subjects. Sixteen university students—eight maximizers and eight satisficers—were recruited to participate in the functional MRI study. Maximizers normally put more effort and time to optimize their choices. Our design featured a constraint on time and maximal number of offers. Behavioral data showed that maximizers, unlike satisficers, tried to optimize the outcome even under such constraints. Functional MRI responses in the areas of the PFC (posterior medial frontal cortex and right rostral portion of the PFC), occipital cortex (left lingual gyrus and occipital visual areas), inferior parietal lobule on the right, and the angular gyrus correlated positively with increased wage offers weighted according to the PT’s value function. Furthermore, maximizers and satisficers differed markedly in how brain activation was engaged in the medial PFC. Previous neuroimaging studies on the PT’s value function have used status quo as an RP, whereas our results demonstrated activity in distributed brain networks when salary expectation served as an RP. Furthermore, the PT’s value function effect on frontal cortex differs according to the psychological profile, being stronger among maximizers than satisficers.

中文翻译：

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分布式大脑网络根据前景理论的价值函数反映薪酬报价。

先前的研究发现，前景理论 (PT) 的价值函数与常规选择过程中前额叶皮层 (PFC) 和纹状体中的网络之间存在关联，但对大脑活动和 PT 在选择过程中的作用知之甚少。薪金期望。我们构建了一个实验，其中受试者的工资期望被用作参考点 (RP)，决策中两种不同心理特征的代表作为受试者。招募了 16 名大学生——8 名最大化者和 8 名满足者——参加了功能性 MRI 研究。最大化者通常会投入更多的精力和时间来优化他们的选择。我们的设计限制了时间和最大数量的报价。行为数据表明，与满足者不同，最大化者 即使在这样的限制下也试图优化结果。PFC（后内侧额叶皮层和 PFC 的右侧嘴部）、枕叶皮层（左舌回和枕部视觉区域）、右侧顶下小叶和角回的功能性 MRI 反应与增加的正相关根据 PT 的价值函数加权的工资报价。此外，最大化者和满足者在大脑激活如何参与内侧 PFC 方面存在显着差异。先前关于 PT 价值函数的神经影像研究使用现状作为 RP，而我们的结果表明，当薪水期望作为 RP 时，分布式大脑网络中的活动。此外，PT 对额叶皮层的价值函数效应因心理状况而异，