Viswanathan, VijaySheppard, John P.Kim, Byoung W.Plantz, Christopher L.Ying, HaoLee, Myung J.Raman, KalyanMulhern, Frank J.Block, Martin P.Calder, BobbyLee, SangMortensen, Dale T.Blood, AnneBreiter, Hans C.2017-04-062017Viswanathan, V., J. P. Sheppard, B. W. Kim, C. L. Plantz, H. Ying, M. J. Lee, K. Raman, et al. 2017. “A Quantitative Relationship between Signal Detection in Attention and Approach/Avoidance Behavior.” Frontiers in Psychology 8 (1): 122. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00122. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00122.http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:32072068This study examines how the domains of reward and attention, which are often studied as independent processes, in fact interact at a systems level. We operationalize divided attention with a continuous performance task and variables from signal detection theory (SDT), and reward/aversion with a keypress task measuring approach/avoidance in the framework of relative preference theory (RPT). Independent experiments with the same subjects showed a significant association between one SDT and two RPT variables, visualized as a three-dimensional structure. Holding one of these three variables constant, further showed a significant relationship between a loss aversion-like metric from the approach/avoidance task, and the response bias observed during the divided attention task. These results indicate that a more liberal response bias under signal detection (i.e., a higher tolerance for noise, resulting in a greater proportion of false alarms) is associated with higher “loss aversion.” Furthermore, our functional model suggests a mechanism for processing constraints with divided attention and reward/aversion. Together, our results argue for a systematic relationship between divided attention and reward/aversion processing in humans.en-USattentionrewardrelative preferencesignal detection theorypsychophysicsiterative modelingneuroeconomicsJournal Article2017-04-0610.3389/fpsyg.2017.00122