The neural basis of bounded rational behavior

Giorgio Coricelli () and Rosemarie Nagel

No 10/11, ThE Papers from Department of Economic Theory and Economic History of the University of Granada.

Abstract: Bounded rational behaviour is commonly observed in experimental games and in real life situations. Neuroeconomics can help to understand the mental processing underlying bounded rationality and out-of-equilibrium behaviour. Here we report results from recent studies on the neural basis of limited steps of reasoning in a competitive setting – the beauty contest game. We use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study the neural correlates of human mental processes in strategic games. We apply a cognitive hierarchy model to classify subject’s choices in the experimental game according to the degree of strategic reasoning so that we can identify the neural substrates of different levels of strategizing. We found a correlation between levels of strategic reasoning and activity in a neural network related to mentalizing, i.e. the ability to think about other’s thoughts and mental states. Moreover, brain data showed how complex cognitive processes subserve the higher level of reasoning about others. We describe how a cognitive hierarchy model fits both behavioural and brain data.

Keywords: Game theory; Bounded rationality; Neuroeconomics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 21 pages
Date: 2010-10-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-evo, nep-exp, nep-gth, nep-hpe, nep-neu and nep-upt
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The neural basis of bounded rational behavior (2012)
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