When good enough is best

Neuron. 2006 Aug 3;51(3):277-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2006.07.015.

Abstract

In this issue of Neuron, Rinberg et al. show that mice use a speed-accuracy tradeoff in odor discrimination. Shorter sampling results in high performance for easy problems, and enforced longer sampling results in higher accuracy for difficult problems, but mice freely choose intermediate sampling durations and accuracy varies with difficulty. Reward value and task requirements may determine sampling time choice and performance levels.

Publication types

  • Comment
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Discrimination Learning / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Reaction Time / physiology*
  • Smell / physiology*