The role of introspective evaluation of intentions to act in a quantum-like cognitive model

In this paper it is shown a quantum-like cognitive model that predicts the slowdown of opinion change. The model proposed is a heuristic model that can reproduces some experimental results, but no assumptions about quantum descriptions of the physical brain are made. In quantum-like cognitive models the measurement postulate represents a decision. It is well known that the measurement postulate is not an essential ingredient of quantum theory, a dynamical account of measurements can also be given. Experimental results corroborate with the equivalence between both accounts. The quantum Zeno effect is an exemplary case. In this paper it is shown that, in a quantum-like cognitive model, the equivalence between the projective and dynamical accounts reveal that evaluations of intentions to act can slow down the opinion change. A thought experiment is proposed and simulations indicate that the predicted slowdown can be observed for a wide variety of parameter values. (c) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This paper presents a quantum-like cognitive model that predicts the slowdown of opinion change, with measurement postulate representing a decision. Experimental results confirm the equivalence between projective and dynamical accounts, which can slow down opinion change in the model. The predicted slowdown can be observed for a wide range of parameter values.