About this Research Topic
Historically, the term “framing effect” referred to the differential degree of risky behavior elicited upon choice options described – i.e. framed – as either gains or losses. In other words, equivalent information presented by highlighting positive or negative features can drive approach or avoidance behavior, respectively.
To date and more broadly, decision-makers' sensitivity to different frames has also been revealed in prosocial behavior, future reward devaluation, food preferences, and even aesthetic appreciation, among others.
Framing a choice problem can deepen our understanding of human behavior: For instance, we now know that people behave more generously toward others whereby it is pointed out that behaving selfishly could have a negative impact on other individuals, especially strangers. More in detail, framing a choice problem can also be a useful means to drive human behavior towards more optimal courses of action, and clinical rehabilitation programs as well as socio-political policy planners could potentially benefit from these experimental manipulations.
As an example, framing food choices could be useful in weight-management interventions in individuals with obesity, food addiction, or eating addiction, falling into feeding and eating disorders (FEDs), or could be even considered when designing ad hoc food advertisements focusing on healthy eating for public health purposes. Moreover, framing choices could also potentially help eradicate maladaptive behaviors, such as smoking addiction or binge drinking.
To date, neuroimaging techniques, as an adjunct to behavioral manipulations, have helped support and strengthen the interpretation of research outputs proposing framing manipulations. Increasing evidence suggests that differential activity arising from the interplay of regions such as the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC/OFC) – considered the central hub for the integration of signals necessary to the computation of decision value –, the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), the insula, and the amygdala, may reflect behavior biased by framing manipulations. However, a comprehensive model is yet to be established.
The objective of this Research Topic is to gather original experimental studies, replication studies, meta-analyses, and review articles falling into the realm of behavioral framing manipulations with a potential practical return, and the submission of neuroimaging studies is encouraged as well.
Towards this aim, this Research Topic welcomes articles addressing, but not limited to, the following topics:
· Framing in behavioral neuroscience related to decision-making processes (including imaging studies) in humans, age-related differences, and interindividual differences where applicable
· Role of the amygdala in mediating appetitive-aversive responses and association in activity levels in response to framing manipulations
· Future reward devaluation
· Prosocial behavior
· Framing within the context of addictive behaviors, substance use disorders (SUDs), and obesity – together with related behavioral disturbances
· Neural correlates – other animal models’ outputs and studies adopting adequate tools for training with non-verbal subjects
· Future directions and applications
To date and more broadly, decision-makers' sensitivity to different frames has also been revealed in prosocial behavior, future reward devaluation, food preferences, and even aesthetic appreciation, among others.
Framing a choice problem can deepen our understanding of human behavior: For instance, we now know that people behave more generously toward others whereby it is pointed out that behaving selfishly could have a negative impact on other individuals, especially strangers. More in detail, framing a choice problem can also be a useful means to drive human behavior towards more optimal courses of action, and clinical rehabilitation programs as well as socio-political policy planners could potentially benefit from these experimental manipulations.
As an example, framing food choices could be useful in weight-management interventions in individuals with obesity, food addiction, or eating addiction, falling into feeding and eating disorders (FEDs), or could be even considered when designing ad hoc food advertisements focusing on healthy eating for public health purposes. Moreover, framing choices could also potentially help eradicate maladaptive behaviors, such as smoking addiction or binge drinking.
To date, neuroimaging techniques, as an adjunct to behavioral manipulations, have helped support and strengthen the interpretation of research outputs proposing framing manipulations. Increasing evidence suggests that differential activity arising from the interplay of regions such as the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC/OFC) – considered the central hub for the integration of signals necessary to the computation of decision value –, the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), the insula, and the amygdala, may reflect behavior biased by framing manipulations. However, a comprehensive model is yet to be established.
The objective of this Research Topic is to gather original experimental studies, replication studies, meta-analyses, and review articles falling into the realm of behavioral framing manipulations with a potential practical return, and the submission of neuroimaging studies is encouraged as well.
Towards this aim, this Research Topic welcomes articles addressing, but not limited to, the following topics:
· Framing in behavioral neuroscience related to decision-making processes (including imaging studies) in humans, age-related differences, and interindividual differences where applicable
· Role of the amygdala in mediating appetitive-aversive responses and association in activity levels in response to framing manipulations
· Future reward devaluation
· Prosocial behavior
· Framing within the context of addictive behaviors, substance use disorders (SUDs), and obesity – together with related behavioral disturbances
· Neural correlates – other animal models’ outputs and studies adopting adequate tools for training with non-verbal subjects
· Future directions and applications
Keywords: choice behavior, decision-making, framing, maladaptive habits, neuroimaging
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
