Empirically validating a computational model of automatic behavior shaping.
<h4>Background</h4>Mobile sensing technology allows automated behavior shaping routines to be incorporated into health behavior interventions and other settings. In previous work, a computational model was built to investigate how to best arrange automatic behavior shaping procedures, bu...
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2025-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313925 |
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| author | Vincent Berardi Tian Lan Ariane Guirguis Uri Maoz |
| author_facet | Vincent Berardi Tian Lan Ariane Guirguis Uri Maoz |
| author_sort | Vincent Berardi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>Mobile sensing technology allows automated behavior shaping routines to be incorporated into health behavior interventions and other settings. In previous work, a computational model was built to investigate how to best arrange automatic behavior shaping procedures, but the degree to which this model reflects actual human behavior is not known.<h4>Purpose</h4>To translate a previously developed computational model of automatic behavior shaping into an experimental setting.<h4>Methods</h4>Participants (n = 54) operated a computer mouse and attempted to locate a hidden, randomly-placed target circle on a blank computer screen and clicks within some threshold distance of the target circle were reinforced by a pleasant auditory tone. As the trial progressed, the threshold distance narrowed according to a shaping function until eventually only clicks within the target circle were reinforced. Accumulated Area Under Trajectory Curves and Time Until 10 Consecutive Target Clicks were used to quantify the probability of the target behavior. Linear mixed effects models were used to assess differential outcomes for concave up, concave down, and linear shaping functions.<h4>Results</h4>In congruence with the computational model, concave-up functions most effectively shaped participants' behavior, with linear and then concave-down shaping functions producing the next best outcomes.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Concave-up shaping routines most effectively generated target behavior, which should be confirmed in health behavior trials. The automatic shaping routines that this study helps develop can be applied in a number of domains, including exercise intensity and duration, tobacco/cannabis smoking, caloric intake, and screen time. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5433e1a0445d44a5972e2973ea7fff5e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
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| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-5433e1a0445d44a5972e2973ea7fff5e2025-02-05T05:31:21ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01201e031392510.1371/journal.pone.0313925Empirically validating a computational model of automatic behavior shaping.Vincent BerardiTian LanAriane GuirguisUri Maoz<h4>Background</h4>Mobile sensing technology allows automated behavior shaping routines to be incorporated into health behavior interventions and other settings. In previous work, a computational model was built to investigate how to best arrange automatic behavior shaping procedures, but the degree to which this model reflects actual human behavior is not known.<h4>Purpose</h4>To translate a previously developed computational model of automatic behavior shaping into an experimental setting.<h4>Methods</h4>Participants (n = 54) operated a computer mouse and attempted to locate a hidden, randomly-placed target circle on a blank computer screen and clicks within some threshold distance of the target circle were reinforced by a pleasant auditory tone. As the trial progressed, the threshold distance narrowed according to a shaping function until eventually only clicks within the target circle were reinforced. Accumulated Area Under Trajectory Curves and Time Until 10 Consecutive Target Clicks were used to quantify the probability of the target behavior. Linear mixed effects models were used to assess differential outcomes for concave up, concave down, and linear shaping functions.<h4>Results</h4>In congruence with the computational model, concave-up functions most effectively shaped participants' behavior, with linear and then concave-down shaping functions producing the next best outcomes.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Concave-up shaping routines most effectively generated target behavior, which should be confirmed in health behavior trials. The automatic shaping routines that this study helps develop can be applied in a number of domains, including exercise intensity and duration, tobacco/cannabis smoking, caloric intake, and screen time.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313925 |
| spellingShingle | Vincent Berardi Tian Lan Ariane Guirguis Uri Maoz Empirically validating a computational model of automatic behavior shaping. PLoS ONE |
| title | Empirically validating a computational model of automatic behavior shaping. |
| title_full | Empirically validating a computational model of automatic behavior shaping. |
| title_fullStr | Empirically validating a computational model of automatic behavior shaping. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Empirically validating a computational model of automatic behavior shaping. |
| title_short | Empirically validating a computational model of automatic behavior shaping. |
| title_sort | empirically validating a computational model of automatic behavior shaping |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313925 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vincentberardi empiricallyvalidatingacomputationalmodelofautomaticbehaviorshaping AT tianlan empiricallyvalidatingacomputationalmodelofautomaticbehaviorshaping AT arianeguirguis empiricallyvalidatingacomputationalmodelofautomaticbehaviorshaping AT urimaoz empiricallyvalidatingacomputationalmodelofautomaticbehaviorshaping |