Soumya Rai
The Effect of Agency on Contextual Valuation in Reinforcement Learning
Our sense of agency is influenced by the amount of control we have over the outcomes of our actions. Past research suggests that we adapt outcomes relative to their context when we do not have agency over the outcomes of our actions. Our preliminary results suggest that when we do have agency, we evaluate outcomes in an absolute manner. This summer, I will be conducting human experiments and analyzing behavioral data to test how agency leads to different contextual valuation strategies when outcomes vary in magnitude and valence.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you very much for your generous sponsorship, which has allowed me to continue exploring my research interests and developing my skills this summer. This opportunity has been instrumental in shaping my aspiration to become a physician-scientist. I am very grateful for your support!
Major: Molecular & Cell Biology and Public Health
Mentor: Richard Ivry and Sabrina Abram, Psychology and Neuroscience
Sponsor: Chandra Research Fellows - Chandra Fund