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Distinguishing regulatory variables and ecological affordances: Prioritizing goals versus implementing action

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2026

Edgar Dubourg Open the ORCID record for Edgar Dubourg [Opens in a new window]  and
Nicolas Baumard
Edgar Dubourg*
Affiliation:
Institut Jean Nicod, Département d’études cognitives, Ecole normale supérieure, Université PSL, EHESS, CNRS, Paris, France edgar.dubourg@gmail.com nbaumard@gmail.com https://www.edgardubourg.fr https://nicolasbaumard.org
Nicolas Baumard
Affiliation:
Institut Jean Nicod, Département d’études cognitives, Ecole normale supérieure, Université PSL, EHESS, CNRS, Paris, France edgar.dubourg@gmail.com nbaumard@gmail.com https://www.edgardubourg.fr https://nicolasbaumard.org
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

We fully share Ko and Neuberg’s premises and conclusions. We only suggest that the framework could be further clarified by distinguishing two kinds of inputs: regulatory variables (cues that calibrate motivational salience) and affordances (local action possibilities that matter only once a motivation is already engaged).

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 49 , 2026 , e65
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press

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