Consistent patterns of distractor effects during decision making

The value of a third potential option or distractor can alter the way in which decisions are made between two other options. Two hypotheses have received empirical support: that a high value distractor improves the accuracy with which decisions between two other options are made and that it impairs accuracy. Recently, however, it has been argued that neither observation is replicable. Inspired by neuroimaging data showing that high value distractors have different impacts on prefrontal and parietal regions, we designed a dual route decision-making model that mimics the neural signals of these regions. Here we show in the dual route model and empirical data that both enhancement and impairment effects are robust phenomena but predominate in different parts of the decision space defined by the options' and the distractor's values. However, beyond these constraints, both effects co-exist under similar conditions. Moreover, both effects are robust and observable in six experiments.Funding provided by: Research Grants Council, University Grants CommitteeCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002920Award Number: 25610316Funding provided by: Wellcome TrustCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100010269Award Number: 203139/Z/16/ZFunding provided by: Wellcome TrustCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100010269Award Number: WT100973AIAFunding provided by: Medical Research CouncilCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000265Award Number: MR/P024955/