Data from: Dynamics of pre-choice and post-choice behaviour: rats approximate optimal strategy in a discrete-trial decision task

We simulate two types of environments to investigate how closely rats
approximate optimal foraging. Rats initiated a trial where they chose
between two spouts for sucrose, which was delivered at distinct
probabilities. The discrete trial procedure used allowed us to observe the
relationship between choice proportions, response latencies and obtained
rewards. Our results show that rats approximate the optimal strategy
across a range of environments that differ in the average probability of
reward as well as the dynamics of the depletion-renewal cycle. We found
that the constituent components of a single choice differentially reflect
environmental contingencies. Post-choice behaviour, measured as the
duration of time rats spent licking at the spouts on unrewarded trials,
was the most sensitive index of environmental variables, adjusting most
rapidly to changes in the environment. These findings have implications
for the role of confidence in choice outcomes for guiding future choices.