Evidence accumulation models have been used to describe the cognitive
processes underlying performance across a number of domains. Previous
applications of these models have typically involved decisions about basic
perceptual stimuli (e.g., motion discrimination). Applied perceptual
domains, such as fingerprint discrimination, face recognition or medical
image interpretation, however, require the processing of more complex
visual information. The ability of evidence accumulation models to account
for these more complex decisions is unknown. We apply a dynamic
decision-making model – the linear ballistic accumulator (LBA) – to
fingerprint discrimination decisions in order to gain insight into the
cognitive processes underlying these complex perceptual judgments. We will
present data from three experiments showing that the LBA provides an
accurate description of the fingerprint discrimination decision processes
with manipulations in visual noise, speed-accuracy emphasis, and training.
We will argue that our results demonstrate that the LBA is a promising
model for furthering our understanding of complex perceptual decisions, and
close by contrasting the LBA model with the signal detection model.