Using Economic Games to Investigate the Neural Substrates of Cognitive Processes

Abstract

Our study has shown that changes can be induced in human decision-making and emotions by using the PD and PDAS games. This suggests that economic games may provide a way to study cognitive functions in detail by analyzing the structure of the economic games using game theory. In addition, the combined use of economic games and neuroimaging techniques such as fNIRS, fMRI, and MEG may capture and quantify neural the substrates of various cognitive processes in a clinical setting. They might be effective in extracting human emotional ups and downs in the process of the decision-making. Further studies of economic games for patients with mental illness or brain damage are needed to explore this approach further.

Mate choice mechanism for solving a quasi-dilemma

“…This procedure can be a natural way to avoid conflict, such as a PD or a coordination situation, in daily life. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), Nagatsuka, Shinagawa, Okano, Kitamura, and Saijo (2013) found that compared with the PD game, subjects made their choices with less stress when using the MC mechanism. We also found experimentally that except for first few periods, the MC mechanism works well in an asymmetric environment.…”