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This study investigates the neural basis of economic decision-making in the Ultimatum Game and explores the relative contributions of cognitive and emotional processes. It hypothesizes that decisions to accept or reject unfair offers engage neural structures involved in both emotional and cognitive processing.
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The Neural Basis of Economic Decision-making in the Ultimatum Game Jonathan D. Cohen lab, Princeton University Deborah Bird November 14, 2008
Questions: What are the neural correlates of fairness? What are the relative contributions of cognitive and emotional processes to economic decision-making? Hypothesis: Decisions to either accept or reject unfair offers will engage neural structures involved in both emotional and cognitive processing
Responder Proposer Possible offers: 5:5 7:3 8:2 9:1
Responder Proposer Possible offers: 5:5…x5 7:3…x2 8:2…x1 9:1…x2
Right Anterior Insula Left Anterior Insula
9:1 8:2 5:5
Negative emotional states linked to anterior insula activation in neuroimaging studies: Pain and distress: M J Iadarola, 1998 Hunger and thirst: D. Denton, 1999 Autonomic arousal: H D Critchley, 2000 Evaluation of negative emotional states, ie. anger and disgust
Pain: Insula after injection of capsaicin M. J. Iadarola et al. 1998
Anterior Insula activation in neuroimaging studies: Pain and distress: M J Iadarola, 1998 Hunger and thirst: D. Denton, 1999 Autonomic arousal: H D Critchley, 2000 Evaluation of negative emotional states, ie. anger and disgust
Disgust Dis gust
Disgust Dis gust Distaste
Anterior Insula and Taste/Distaste: P Rozin, 1993 DM Small, 2000 Penfield and Faulk, 2000
Anterior Insula and Disgust Recognition AJ Calder, 2001
Disgust! Andrew J. Calder; Nature Reviews Neuroscience; 2001
Disgust recognition. Activation of insula (in purple) during recognition of facial expressions showing disgust. Andrew J. Calder; 2001
Conclusion: Emotional states are an important factor informing human decision-making. Competition and interplay between the anterior insula and the DLPFC represent the twin demands of the Ultimatum Game: The emotional resistance to unfairness The cognitive task of accumulating money