Overview
Categorical knowledge representation has a profound impact on decision making. Yet, relatively little is known about how different types of representations are acquired, or how useful different representations are for decision making in general. The proposed research aims to fill this void by characterizing the factors contributing to the development and generalizability of different types of category representations. More specifically, we will test the following novel hypotheses: (1) The training methodology and the structure of the categories themselves are critical factors in determining the nature of the category representation. (2) Distinct psychological representations depend upon different computational processes and are mediated by different brain networks. (3) Different category representations vary in the extent to which they can be generalized to support cognition. To achieve these objectives, we will utilize a combination of experimental, neuroimaging, and computational techniques that will enable investigation of the impact of different types of category representations on decision making at the aggregate and individual participant levels.