Analytic vs. synthetic decision-making: a behavioral and EEG study with real-world decision-making scenarios

Decision-making can rely on two mental strategies—synthetic (a top-down process in which decisions are made by evaluating the overall situation) or analytic (a bottom-up driven process guided by a detailed examination of individual elements)—following opposite cognitive pathways, shaping how individuals process information and make choices. This study investigates the behavioral and neural correlates of analytic and synthetic decision-making strategies. A total of 30 participants read five real-life scenarios and chose between two alternatives representing analytic and synthetic strategies, while their electroencephalographic (EEG) activity was continuously recorded. From their choices, Analytic score (Ascore) and Synthetic score (Sscore) were calculated, along with response times (RTs). Behavioral results indicated a preference for the analytic strategy (probably depending on participants’ age, as analytical processing guides young adults’ decision-making) along with faster RTs compared to the synthetic approach (suggesting faster information processing and greater efficiency due to greater control and persistence). EEG findings revealed higher mean changes in values for spectral power of alpha band in the temporoparietal regions compared to frontal regions, highlighting the prefrontal cortex’s (PFC) crucial role in decision-making processes. These findings contribute to understanding the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying different decision-making strategies.