Colorado Balloon Game.

<p><b>A.</b> Decision-Balloon screen, yellow light illuminated. Counter initially $5. <b>B.</b> Events during presentation of 90 paired trials, each Decision Balloon (DecBa) followed by a Directed Balloon (DirBa). Top: timing (seconds). Colored circles represent stoplight lights. DecBa begins (B, upper): yellow light illuminated 4 sec, subject decides to press left (L) or right (R) button. Green light (0.5 sec), subject executes response. Red light, consequence appears (3.5 sec). Risky right press consequence, either: (a) “smiley face”, expanding balloon, puffing sounds, counter adds 5 cents, or (b) “pop” sound, shrinking balloon, “frowney face”, counter loses 10 cents. Cautious left press consequence: +1 cent on counter, dull “thud” sound, unchanged balloon. Then, “jittered” fixation. DirBa's (B, lower) are identical to their paired DecBa's except: only half of initial yellow light illuminates, signaling (<i>i</i>) start of a DirBa and (<i>ii</i>) button to press during green light (<i>e.g.</i>, right illumination – press right) – the same button chosen during preceding paired DecBa. Green-light press on directed button: +2 cents on counter. Then balloon repeats the consequence (puff up, pop, or no change) of previous paired DecBa; subject was told that DirBa consequences would not affect earnings. Finally, jittered fixation screen. <b>C.</b> During DecBa, declining proportion of right presses programmed to win as game progresses. Mostly pressing left later in game saves earnings. <b>D.</b> Visual Analog Scales (VAS). After sessions subjects rated their opinions about the stated questions on 100mm lines. Marked positions represent all-subject means; groups did not differ significantly. Upper VAS: subjects' understanding of decision-making source for DecBa vs. DirBa. Lower VAS: Different emotional responses to puff-ups or pops of DecBa, vs. DirBa. <b>E.</b> Mean numbers, DecBa selections.