Minimum mean bayes risk error quantization of prior probabilities

Bayesian hypothesis testing is investigated when the prior probabilities of the hypotheses, taken as a random vector, must be quantized. Nearest neighbor and centroid conditions for quantizer optimality are derived using mean Bayes risk error as a distortion measure. An example of optimal quantization for hypothesis testing is provided. Human decision making is briefly studied assuming quantized prior Bayesian hypothesis testing; this model explains several experimental findings.