Neuroeconomics and the Ultimatum Game

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the main cognitive demand when dealing with unfair offers in decision-making?

Understanding the fairness of the offer

Accumulating as much money as possible (correct)

Evaluating social relationships

Feeling empathy towards the proposer

Which brain region is associated with a bias toward rejection of unfair offers?

Anterior insula (correct)

Hippocampus

Amygdala

DLPFC

What neural correlate has been implicated in the detection of cognitive conflict?

DLPFC

Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) (correct)

Prefrontal cortex

Temporal lobe

What was observed regarding DLPFC activation in relation to acceptance rates of unfair offers?

It does not correlate with acceptance rates Signup and view all the answers

How does the anterior insula activity influence decision-making in the context of the Ultimatum Game?

By biasing toward rejection Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of decision-making does this study seek to understand?

The neural basis of fairness and unfairness Signup and view all the answers

What has the anterior insula activation been shown to reflect in decision-making scenarios?

The discomfort with cognitive conflict Signup and view all the answers

How does the study relate to broader concepts in society?

It has implications for ethics and social policy Signup and view all the answers

Which brain area showed significant activation in response to unfair offers from human partners compared to fair offers?

Anterior cingulate cortex Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary focus of the analysis regarding offers made in the Ultimatum Game?

The unfair offers, particularly $8:$2 and $9:$1 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following regions is associated with negative emotional responses, particularly regarding unfair offers?

Anterior insula Signup and view all the answers

What is true regarding the participants' decisions about unfair offers?

Fair offers were predominantly accepted, but some unfair offers were rejected Signup and view all the answers

Which method was used to observe participant brain activity during the Ultimatum Game?

MRI scanner Signup and view all the answers

What did the significant activation in the bilateral anterior insula suggest about the participants' feelings?

A negative emotional response to unfair offers Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance level (P-value) indicating greater activation for unfair offers in the left insula?

P < 0.02 Signup and view all the answers

Which contrast was used to assess the activation related to unfair offers?

Unfair human offer – fair human offer Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of the proposer in the ultimatum game?

To offer the smallest sum of money possible to the responder Signup and view all the answers

How do low offers (around 20% of the total) in the ultimatum game tend to be received?

They are likely to be rejected about 50% of the time Signup and view all the answers

What does the empirical findings from the ultimatum game reveal about human social decision-making?

Individuals often reject offers below a specific threshold Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the ultimatum game, what can be inferred about modal offers?

They hover around 50% of the total amount Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant limitation of the standard economic model as highlighted by the ultimatum game?

It cannot explain the rejection behaviors observed among participants Signup and view all the answers

What role do cognitive and emotional processes play in the ultimatum game?

They both influence the responder's acceptance of the offers Signup and view all the answers

Which factor appears to strongly influence the acceptance or rejection of offers in the ultimatum game?

The perceived fairness of the offer Signup and view all the answers

Based on the findings related to the ultimatum game, which statement is correct regarding human behavior in economic situations?

Emotional responses can lead to irrational decision-making Signup and view all the answers

What does the research involving a GluR2 K882A knock-in mouse aim to test?

The hypothesis that cerebellar LTD is required for specific types of motor learning. Signup and view all the answers

In the Ultimatum Game, what is the role of the second player?

To accept or reject the proposed division of a sum of money. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following techniques was used to study the neural substrates involved in the Ultimatum Game?

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Signup and view all the answers

What limitation is highlighted regarding previous studies on cerebellar LTD and motor learning?

They relied on non-specific manipulations affecting the late induction signaling cascade. Signup and view all the answers

What areas of the brain showed increased activity in response to unfair offers in the Ultimatum Game?

Areas involved in emotional processing. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of neuroeconomics as suggested in the content?

It aims to link economic behaviors to biological functions in the brain. Signup and view all the answers

What does LTD stand for in the context of the cerebellum?

Long-Term Depression. Signup and view all the answers

What role does PKC play in the signaling cascade related to cerebellar LTD?

It acts early in the LTD induction signaling cascade. Signup and view all the answers

What role does phosphorylation of GluR2 Ser880 play in Purkinje cells?

Is necessary for LTD induction Signup and view all the answers

Why might the mutation of Lys882 interfere with receptor functions?

It prevents the export of heteromeric complexes Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion can be drawn about PKC consensus sites on subunits other than GluR2?

They are insufficient for enabling LTD Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by the correlation coefficient of the right insula in relation to unfair offers?

It indicates a moderate negative relationship with rejected offers. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the K882A mutation is correct?

It may affect the recognition of phosphorylated Ser880 Signup and view all the answers

How does anterior insula activation compare with DLPFC activation in response to accepted offers?

DLPFC activation is greater than anterior insula activation. Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested by the results regarding the export of functional heteromeric receptor complexes?

They require GluR2 phosphorylation at Ser880 Signup and view all the answers

What does the contrast in activation between the anterior insula and DLPFC signify for accepted and rejected offers?

It indicates a competition between cognitive and emotional processing. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following compounds is likely to be used in the purification of polyclonal antiserum?

Bovine serum albumin conjugated with GluR2 peptide Signup and view all the answers

What role does the DLPFC typically play in decision-making according to the content?

It is linked to cognitive processes and goal maintenance. Signup and view all the answers

What does the presence of heteromeric receptor complexes involving GluR2 imply?

They can include both GluR2 and GluR4c Signup and view all the answers

What do the findings suggest about the relationship between anterior insula activation and unfair offers?

It increases with the severity of unfairness. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of studies referenced by numbers (18), (33-35), and (36)?

They provide previous findings that support current results Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'emotionally charged decision-making' refer to in this context?

Decisions influenced significantly by emotional states and brain regions like the anterior insula. Signup and view all the answers

During decision-making, what is noted about the behavior of the anterior insula in relation to unfair offers?

It correlates with a higher rejection rate of unfair offers. Signup and view all the answers

What statistical significance was found regarding the relationship between right anterior insular activity and decisions on unfair offers?

P-value of 0.05 shows a significant negative correlation. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Neural Basis of Economic Decision-Making in the Ultimatum Game

Neuroeconomics seeks to link economic decision-making to brain processes.
The Ultimatum Game involves two players splitting money. One proposes a split, the other accepts or rejects.
Offers of unfair splits are often rejected, even when a small amount is accepted.
Rejection of unfair offers is associated with heightened activity in the anterior insula (linked to emotion) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (linked to cognition).
Standard economic models underestimate the role of emotions in decision-making.
Unfair offers from humans trigger a stronger emotional response than unfair offers from computers.
People reject unfair offers more often when the offer is made by a human than when the offer is made by a computer.
Greater anterior insula activation correlates with rejection of unfair offers.
Activity in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex doesn't correlate with acceptance rates but may compete with emotional areas in influencing decisions.

V1 Neurons Signal Acquisition of an Internal Representation of Stimulus Location

Internal representation of stimulus location is vital for visuomotor tasks.
Visual cortex responses change when an internal location representation is formed, depending on the location.
Neuron responses are tuned to gaze direction, and the probability of stimulus appearance.
Changes in neural response selectivity and dynamics occur in early visual cortex stages during internal representation acquisition, when location is known ahead of time.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Explore the intersection of neuroscience and economic decision-making through the lens of the Ultimatum Game. This quiz examines how brain activity influences our reactions to fair and unfair offers and emphasizes the emotional components of economic choices. Test your understanding of the neural mechanisms at play in economic behavior.