Pupil Size Responses in Exploration-Exploitation Decisions from Horizon Task

A dataset from a 2026 study by Gili Barkay, analyzing pupil diameter recordings from 35 participants performing 320 mini-games in the Horizon Task. The data focuses on the first free-choice trial to examine how pupil-indexed arousal corresponds to directed and random exploration and exploitation behaviors under manipulated value uncertainty and choice horizons. The dataset is 83.2 KB and is available under a CC-BY-4.0 license.

Use Cases

• Modeling the relationship between pupil-linked arousal and exploitative choices based on manipulated value differences.
• Analyzing pre-decision arousal modulation based on trial-by-trial data from the Horizon Task.
• Investigating behavioral patterns of directed exploration based on information asymmetries and choice horizon conditions.
• Correlating psychophysiological measures with strategic control demands in adaptive decision-making.

Strengths

• Dataset is openly licensed (CC-BY-4.0) for reuse and redistribution.
• Data collection involved 35 participants and 320 mini-games per participant, providing a basis for analysis.
• Study design independently manipulated key variables: value uncertainty, information asymmetries, and choice horizon.

Limitations

• Row count and column-level documentation are unknown, limiting suitability assessment.
• The dataset is very small (83.2 KB), indicating limited scope, likely containing summary or analysis results rather than raw trial data.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data structure and quality require manual inspection after download.

Provenance

Source

Gili Barkay via figshare.

Collection Method

Pupil diameter was continuously recorded from participants performing the Horizon Task in a controlled study.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-18 10:18:50.